UN Warns 52 Million Face Hunger in West and Central Africa Amid Worsening Crisis

 UN Warns 52 Million Face Hunger in West and Central Africa Amid Worsening Crisis

DAKAR/GENEVA — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a dire warning that over 52 million people in West and Central Africa could face acute hunger between June and August 2025, unless urgent funding and support are provided.

The alert comes as part of WFP’s latest food security analysis, revealing that at least 36 million people are currently unable to meet their basic food needs—with nearly 3 million already experiencing emergency levels of hunger, and 2,600 people in Mali at risk of catastrophic food insecurity.

 A Region on the Brink: Key Facts

• 52 million projected to face food insecurity during lean season (June–August)

• 36 million currently food insecure

• 2,600 in Mali at risk of IPC Phase 5 (catastrophic hunger)

• 10+ million people displaced by conflict

• $710 million urgently needed to sustain WFP operations until October 2025

• 3 million people already assisted by WFP in 2025

• 5 million more at risk of losing aid without additional funding

 The Sahel’s Growing Food Crisis

Food insecurity in the Sahel—which includes parts of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and northern Nigeria—has skyrocketed from 4% of the population in 2019 to over 30% in 2025, according to Ollo Sib, a senior research adviser at WFP.

“We hope that our voice will be heard,” Sib said, speaking from Dakar.

“Communities are being hit by one crisis after another—conflict, inflation, drought—leaving them unable to recover or plan for the next planting season.”

During a recent field visit to northern Ghana, WFP officials found farmers were forced to replant crops two to three times due to drought, facing soaring prices for seeds and fertiliser. In northern Mali, food prices have risen over 50% above the five-year average, leaving pastoralists unable to trade livestock for cereal.

 Conflict, Displacement and Economic Collapse Driving Hunger

WFP identified several key drivers behind the escalating hunger:

• Persistent armed conflict, especially in Nigeria, Mali, and Cameroon

• Mass displacement: Over 10 million people displaced, including

  • 2 million refugees and asylum seekers in Chad, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Niger

  • 8 million internally displaced, mostly in Nigeria and Cameroon

• Rising food and fuel prices, pushing inflation to record highs

• Extreme weather, including recurrent droughts and floods, devastating livelihoods

“These overlapping shocks are stretching families’ coping capacities beyond their limits,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

 WFP’s Response and Funding Gap

WFP is seeking $710 million in emergency funds to continue its life-saving operations through October 2025. The agency aims to reach 12 million of the most vulnerable people across the region, including:

• Refugees and displaced persons

• Malnourished children under five

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls

So far, only 3 million people have received assistance this year. Five million more could lose access to food support unless urgent contributions are made.

“Without immediate funding, WFP will be forced to scale down both the number of people we can reach and the quantity of food we can deliver,” van der Velden warned.

 Investing in Resilience and Long-Term Solutions

Beyond emergency aid, WFP is calling on governments and development partners to invest in sustainable agricultural practices, climate resilience, and livelihood support to tackle the root causes of hunger.

Since 2018, WFP’s resilience-building programme has:

• Rehabilitated over 300,000 hectares of degraded land

• Reached more than 4 million people

• Spanned over 3,400 villages across West and Central Africa

These efforts aim to help communities recover faster from climate shocks and reduce long-term dependency on food assistance.

Conclusion: Urgency to Act

The hunger crisis unfolding in West and Central Africa is one of the most pressing humanitarian emergencies globally. With climate change, armed conflict, and economic instability creating a perfect storm, millions of lives hang in the balance.

The UN is urging governments, donors, and the international community to act swiftly by providing emergency funding and long-term development support to prevent a full-scale famine and protect future generations.