UN warns millions face famine, lists Nigeria among high-risk countries

UN warns millions face famine, lists Nigeria among high-risk countries

Two United Nations food agencies have sounded the alarm that millions more people around the world could face famine, as deepening funding shortfalls worsen already dire humanitarian conditions.

In a joint report released on Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said conflict and violence were the leading drivers of acute food insecurity in most of the high-risk countries.

The Rome-based agencies identified Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as facing an “imminent risk of catastrophic hunger.”

Countries of very high concern include Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria, while Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were also listed among those in crisis.

“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” warned WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, adding that a failure to act “will only drive further instability, migration and conflict.”

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The report noted that global humanitarian efforts were being crippled by a severe funding gap, with only $10.5 billion received out of the $29 billion required to reach the most vulnerable populations.

As a result, WFP has been forced to cut food aid to refugees and displaced persons, and suspend school feeding programmes in several countries.

The FAO also expressed concern that reduced funding was threatening agricultural recovery in fragile regions. It warned that efforts to support seed distribution, livestock health services, and smallholder farmers were critical to stabilising food production and preventing new crises.

“Urgent support is needed before planting seasons begin or new shocks occur,” the agency stated.

The UN agencies urged the international community to scale up funding immediately to avert what they described as a “preventable global hunger catastrophe.”

UN warns millions face famine, lists Nigeria among high-risk countries