40 Million face hunger in West and Central Africa: UN
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PHOTO: Suleiman, the grandson of Hauwa Bwami, eats an orange-fleshed sweet potato.
More than 40 million people in West and Central Africa are currently struggling with hunger, and this number is expected to rise to 52 million by mid-2025, according to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). A new report released by the WFP on Friday highlights the alarming scale of food insecurity in the region, with an additional 3.4 million people facing “emergency levels of hunger.” This marks a staggering 70% increase in such cases since the summer, underscoring the growing urgency of the situation.
The WFP attributes the worsening hunger crisis to several key factors, including ongoing conflicts, displacement, economic instability, and the severe effects of climate change. One of the main drivers of food insecurity in the region is the prolonged conflict in the Sahel, which has disrupted agriculture, trade, and basic services. Additionally, the civil war in Sudan has displaced millions, exacerbating the food crisis across neighboring countries. The situation has been further compounded by massive flooding in Nigeria and Chad earlier this year, which destroyed crops and infrastructure, worsening access to food in affected areas.
While the numbers are grim, the new WFP report does offer a slight improvement compared to last year’s figures. The total number of people facing food insecurity in the region has decreased by 7.7 million, primarily due to better-than-expected rainfall and some marginal improvements in security. However, the WFP cautions that these improvements are unlikely to be sustained, and the region remains vulnerable to future shocks. According to the report, nearly one in ten people in West and Central Africa will face food insecurity by 2025, a region that is home to more than half a billion people, according to the World Bank.
Margot van der Velden, WFP’s regional director for West Africa, expressed concern over the region’s “vicious cycle of hunger,” emphasizing that it can be broken with better preparedness and planning. She highlighted the need for flexible and timely funding to address the immediate needs of crisis-affected populations. Van der Velden also called for greater investment in long-term solutions, such as resilience-building and anticipatory actions that can help communities cope with future crises and reduce the overall need for humanitarian aid.
The current situation underscores the urgent need for international attention and support to address the multifaceted causes of food insecurity in West and Central Africa. Conflict, climate change, and displacement are interlinked challenges that require coordinated efforts across governments, humanitarian organizations, and local communities. Increased funding and strategic interventions are essential to prevent the crisis from worsening and to build long-term resilience against future shocks.
The report also highlights the disproportionate impact of hunger on vulnerable populations, including women, children, and refugees. These groups are often the hardest hit by food insecurity, with women and children facing increased risks of malnutrition and stunted growth. Refugees and displaced persons, who often live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, are particularly vulnerable to food shortages and disease outbreaks.
In response to the growing crisis, the WFP has called for an urgent increase in humanitarian assistance to the most affected areas. The organization has been working on the ground to provide food aid, nutritional support, and emergency relief to those in need. However, the scale of the crisis requires a sustained, multi-faceted response that goes beyond immediate aid and addresses the root causes of hunger.
The situation in West and Central Africa serves as a stark reminder of the complex and interconnected challenges faced by the region. While immediate assistance is crucial, long-term strategies are needed to break the cycle of hunger and build resilience against future shocks. This includes investing in agricultural development, improving access to markets, and enhancing disaster preparedness to ensure that communities can withstand the impacts of climate change and conflict.
The international community must act now to prevent the food insecurity crisis in West and Central Africa from worsening. With millions of lives at stake, coordinated action is essential to address the root causes of hunger and ensure that people in the region have the resources and support they need to survive and thrive. As the WFP warns, the situation is dire, and without urgent intervention, the number of people facing hunger in the coming years could be even higher.
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