Conflict remains a main driver of food insecurity, but climate shocks are also a significant factor, according to a joint early warning report from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The report highlighted the lingering impact of El Niño.
UN Humanitarian Aid data indicates that at least 18 crisis locations already experiencing food insecurity could face “acute food insecurity” without swift intervention.
Since October 2023, Nigeria and other countries have been added to the list of hunger hotspots likely to see worsening acute food insecurity. While many hotspots are in Africa, concerns about famine also persist in Gaza and Sudan, where ongoing conflict exacerbates the risk of new hunger emergencies.
“Once a famine is declared, it is too late – many people will have already starved to death,” 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. We must learn the lesson and act now to stop these hotspots from igniting a firestorm of hunger.”
The hunger crisis in South Sudan is so severe that the number of people facing starvation is projected to nearly double between April and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Tight domestic food supplies, sharp currency depreciation, likely floods, and recurrent conflict are driving food prices up. Additionally, an expected rise in returnees and refugees from Sudan is likely to worsen acute food insecurity among both new arrivals and host communities.
Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen are also hotspots of “very high concern,” with large numbers of people facing critical acute food insecurity and worsening conditions.
Since October 2023, the Central African Republic, Lebanon, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zambia have joined Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, and Zimbabwe on the list of hunger hotspots.
Climate shocks, including the lingering effects of El Niño, have caused severe drought in southern Africa and extensive floods in east Africa. Looking ahead, the potential impact of La Niña between August and February 2025 could significantly influence rainfall, potentially leading to flooding in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Chad, Mali, Nigeria, and Sudan.
Both weather phenomena could bring further climate extremes that disrupt lives and livelihoods, the report warned. Immediate humanitarian action is needed to prevent further starvation and death.
This urgent call for action underscores the need for international cooperation and rapid response to avert further deterioration of food security in these critical regions. The window to prevent catastrophe is narrow, and the world must act swiftly to provide the necessary aid and support to those in desperate need.
