Amidst escalating crises, the global food security landscape is under severe threat, with at least 18 critical locations facing acute food insecurity that could lead to catastrophic outcomes unless urgent aid is delivered, warned humanitarian agencies on Wednesday. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program highlighted that while many of these hunger hotspots are in Africa, regions like Gaza and Sudan are also at high risk due to ongoing conflict, exacerbating regional hunger emergencies.
The report issued by FAO and WFP underscores the urgency of preemptive action, citing the disastrous consequences of delayed responses observed in past famines. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of WFP, emphasized the critical nature of early intervention: Once a famine is declared, it is too late, many people will have already starved to death. She drew parallels with past crises, urging global attention and immediate measures to prevent these hotspots from erupting into widespread hunger catastrophes.
South Sudan remains a focal point of concern, with projections indicating a near doubling of starvation cases between April and July 2024 compared to the previous year. The country grapples with internal food shortages exacerbated by currency depreciation and potential floods, alongside recurring subnational conflicts that further strain food access. The influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan further exacerbates the food insecurity crisis among both newcomers and host communities.
Other regions under intense scrutiny include Chad, Syria, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar, all marked by severe acute food insecurity and worsening conditions expected in the coming months. Recent additions to the list of hunger hotspots include the Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zambia, joining previously identified critical areas like Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
While conflict remains a primary driver of food insecurity, climate shocks, such as the residual effects of El Niño, continue to exert significant influence. The report highlights the severe drought in southern Africa and extensive floods in East Africa as enduring consequences of climate variability. Looking ahead, the impending La Niña phenomenon, forecasted between August 2024 and February 2025, poses a looming threat with potential shifts in rainfall patterns that could exacerbate flooding in countries like South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Chad, Mali, Nigeria, and Sudan.
FAO and WFP stress the critical need for immediate, large-scale humanitarian responses to avert further starvation and death in these vulnerable regions. The agencies underscore the necessity of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of climate extremes and conflict, emphasizing that preemptive action is essential to safeguard lives and livelihoods from the impending threat of famine and acute food insecurity.
This comprehensive assessment by FAO and WFP serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of global food systems and the urgent imperative for concerted international efforts to address the multifaceted challenges confronting food security in crisis-hit regions worldwide.
