Increasing Food Insecurity in West and Central Africa Regarded as a Serious Concern by United Nations
Food Crisis in Western and Central Africa: A Looming Emergency
NEARLY 52 MILLION PEOPLE could struggle with food shortages this summer, according to the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP). This number includes nearly 3 million people in emergency situations, due to factors like persistent conflicts, economic deterioration, and extreme weather conditions in the region.
The looming emergency is not a new development. Like a ticking time bomb, unyielding conflicts have forced over 10 million people to flee their homes, becoming refugees and asylum seekers in countries like Chad, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Niger. Additionally, nearly 8 million people have been internally displaced, primarily in Nigeria and Cameroon. Displacement cuts them off from their livelihoods and primary food sources.
Economic hardship further aggravates the crisis. Soaring food and fuel costs have pushed food inflation to record highs in countries like Ghana, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire.
Recurrent extreme weather conditions have also strained food availability and access in the region.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is at the forefront of emergency response efforts. The organization has already provided lifesaving assistance to 3 million of the most vulnerable victims, including refugees and internally displaced persons. To continue their efforts, the WFP has requested $710 million in funding from May to October 2025.
The WFP is not just focused on immediate assistance. They aim to transform communities by working alongside residents to improve ecosystems, boost social cohesion, and strengthen livelihoods, reducing reliance on humanitarian aid. The WFP also employs tools like the Cadre Harmonisé to analyze food insecurity levels and allocate resources more effectively.
The UN and WFP are working tirelessly to address the root causes of hunger in Western and Central Africa, but they need urgent funding to continue and expand their efforts. Without immediate support, millions of lives could be at stake.
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- The world watches as climate-change exacerbates extreme weather conditions in Western and Central Africa, straining food availability and access in the region.
- Environmental-science experts stress the need for policy-and-legislation that addresses the escalating consequences of climate-change on food security, urging governments to take action.
- Meanwhile, the general-news media continues to report on the ongoing food crisis in the region, highlighting the political implications for both the affected countries and global institutions like the UN and World Food Programme (WFP).
