ROME (AP) — Two UN agencies warned Monday of increasing food emergencies, including famine in Sudan due to the outbreak of the war and in Haiti,Burkina Faso and Mali due to the restricted movement of people and goods.
The four countries join Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen in the highest alert levels, with communities already facing or projected to face famine or risk slipping “into catastrophic conditions”.
The report from the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization calls for urgent attention to save lives and jobs. Beyond the nine countries that scored the highest level of concern, the agencies said 22 countries are identified as “hotspots” at risk of acute food insecurity.
“Business as usual is no longer an option in the current risk landscape if we are to achieve global food security for all, ensuring that no one is left behind.” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO.
He called for immediate action in the agriculture sector “to lift people from the brink of hunger, help them rebuild their lives and provide a long-term solution to address the root causes of food insecurity.”
The report cited a possible spillover from the conflict in Sudan, deepening economic crises in poor nations and rising fears that the El Niño weather phenomenon forecast for mid-2023 could trigger weather extremes in vulnerable countries.
The report warns that 1 million people are expected to flee Sudan, while another 2.5 million inside Sudan will face acute famine in the coming months as supply routes through Port Sudan are disrupted. for security issues.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain warned of “catastrophic” consequences unless there is clear action to “help people adapt to a changing climate and ultimately prevent famine.”
“Not only are more people in more parts of the world going hungry, but the severity of the hunger they face is worse than ever,” McCain said.