UN report says Nigeria, Somalia, others ri$k joining the list of hunger hotspots

Data from the United Nation, UN Humanitarian Aid has shown that at least 18 crisis locations—which are already experiencing food insecurity—may experience a “acute food insecurity” if help is not delivered as soon as possible.

The data noted that since October 2023, Nigeria and some other countries have joined a host of others on the list of hunger hotspots where acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in the coming months.

Although many “hunger hotspots” are in Africa, fears of famine persist in Gaza and Sudan, where conflict continues to rage, fueling the regional risk of new hunger emergencies, warned the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). “Once a famine is declared, it is too late – many people will have already starved to d£ath,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director.

“In Somalia in 2011, half of the 250,000 people who died of hunger perished before famine was officially declared. The world failed to heed the warnings at the time and the repercussions were catastrophic. We must learn the lesson and act now to stop these hotspots from igniting a firestorm of hunger.”

The devastating hunger chaos underway in South Sudan is so severe that the number of people facing starvation and d£ath there is projected to almost double between the month of April and July 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

It could be noted that Tight domestic food supplies and sharp currency depreciation are driving food prices to soar, compounded by likely floods and recurrent waves of subnational conflict,” the report explained. “A projected further rise of returnees and refugees from Sudan is likely to increase acute food insecurity among both new arrivals and host communities.”

Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen are also hotspots of “very high concern,” the report noted. “A large number of people” in these countries face critical acute food insecurity, coupled with worsening drivers that are expected to further intensify life-thr£at£ning conditions in the coming months. [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>>