Khaberni - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme have warned of a worsening acute food security crisis in 16 countries, putting millions of lives at risk, especially in conflict and climate disaster areas.
A joint report titled "Hotspots of Hunger" states that six countries face the risk of famine or catastrophic hunger, including Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and Yemen, indicating that some communities in these countries "may reach a stage of famine or near famine."
The report added that other countries are experiencing a worrying deterioration in food security, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan, along with Burkina Faso, Chad, and Kenya, as well as the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, clarified that famine "is not inevitable," stressing that the international community has "the tools and the knowledge to prevent it, but what is missing is the resources and the political will to act immediately." She added that children are the most vulnerable group, as malnutrition weakens their immunity and increases the risk of diseases and death.
The report highlighted that conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of hunger in 14 out of 16 hunger hotspots worldwide, while economic shocks and the fragility of local economies, along with rising prices, exacerbate the crisis. It also noted that severe climate phenomena such as floods, drought, and hurricanes linked to the "La Niña" phenomenon, along with declining humanitarian aid and funding shortages, have all contributed to the expanding scope of hunger.
Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, stated that "conflict remains the primary driver of hunger, but climate shocks and economic instability exacerbate the crisis, leaving millions without a safety net."
The organizations called for urgent and proactive measures to prevent famine and invest in enhancing resilience and addressing the root causes of the crisis, warning that "delay in action will cost lives that could be saved and increase the long-term humanitarian cost."
