The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is intensifying its emergency food and nutrition assistance in West and Central Africa to address a worsening hunger crisis.
The program, which runs from June through August, aims to support 7.3 million people during the critical lean season when food reserves are depleted and hunger peaks.
The initiative targets countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria.
Due to dwindling resources, WFP has been compelled to assist fewer people than initially planned, despite unprecedented needs.
The number of individuals the WFP hopes to reach could increase to 12 million if additional funding becomes available.
The region is grappling with a severe food security crisis, with nearly 55 million people projected to face acute hunger, a staggering rise from 12.6 million in 2019. The situation is compounded by extreme malnutrition rates, with an estimated 17 million children under five affected.
Chris Nikoi, WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa, highlighted the dire situation.
His words: “The alarming hunger crisis in the region underscores the urgent need for transformative solutions to help vulnerable families meet not only their immediate food needs but also build a brighter future.”
He emphasized the necessity for emergency responses and sustainable solutions to enhance food security, agricultural productivity, and resilience against economic and climate shocks.
The crisis is driven by a complex mix of factors including conflicts, soaring food prices, and climate change impacts.
Economic disruptions, high inflation, depreciating currencies, and increased costs of essential goods and services have severely affected communities, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
WFP’s lean season response focuses on providing immediate relief to the most vulnerable populations, including refugees, displaced people, and those in severely food-insecure areas affected by climatic, economic, and security crises.
However, despite the escalating needs, funding has not kept pace, leaving many without the necessary assistance and at risk of deepening hunger.
Looking ahead, the 2024 seasonal forecasts predict dry spells and floods, potentially disrupting agriculture and exacerbating food insecurity.
“The escalation of humanitarian needs far outstrips available resources. The only way out of this cycle is to prioritize durable solutions,” Nikoi asserted.
In response to the crisis, WFP is also implementing long-term resilience programs.
Since 2018, WFP’s integrated resilience program has rehabilitated over 290,000 hectares of degraded land across the Sahel, benefiting four million people in more than 3,000 villages.
The program integrates land restoration with educational support, nutrition, and assistance to smallholder farmers, helping communities withstand recurrent shocks.
In Chad, WFP supports the “One Family, one-hectare” initiative, which provides land and livelihood opportunities to 500,000 host and refugee families, promoting self-sufficiency and future stability.
