UN: 48 million people in West Africa are on the brink of starvation

In a written statement made by the United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies, it was indicated that food prices rose to the highest level in the last 10 years due to security problems, high temperatures, irregular rains and the Covid-19 outbreak.

In the statement, it was emphasized that 48 million people in West and Central Africa will face acute food insecurity in the coming months. Pointing out that the war in Ukraine caused food and fertilizer shortages in poor regions of the world, the following statements were included:

“According to the analysis of regional food security presented by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Fund for (UNICEF), the number of people without regular access to safe and nutritious food is estimated to reach 48 million in August.

The statement stated that security problems in countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso seriously affect the semi-arid region of the Sahel, and warned that this situation would cause the displacement of 2.5 million people and the death of thousands of people. . in the near future.

UN aid agencies said 45,000 people in the Sahel region are forecast to face famine-level starvation in the near future.
The estimated food shortages will mean that an estimated 16.5 million children under the age of 5 will face acute malnutrition this year.

FOOD SUPPLY ROUTES CLOSED

WFP emergency preparedness and response consultant Alexandre Lecuziat told a joint press conference with other aid organizations in Dakar that food supply routes in some regions were completely blocked due to security concerns.

Lecuziat claimed that helicopters were rented to the regions where the aid was to be delivered, reducing the funds available.

Robert Guei, FAO Subregional Coordinator for West Africa, pointed out the increase in agricultural production in the region to solve the food problem. (AA)