Fifty-five million people in Africa likely to face acute food insecurity

(MENAFN) Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa are expected to experience acute food insecurity during the lean period from June to August 2026, according to the latest regional food security assessment cited by the UN food agency.

Speaking in Geneva, Jean Martin Bauer, the agency’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, explained that the figure includes populations classified as being in crisis, emergency, or catastrophic conditions under the regional food security framework.

He noted that roughly three million people are projected to fall into emergency-level hunger, which is twice the number recorded in 2020. For the first time in ten years, areas of northeastern Nigeria — particularly Borno State — are expected to see communities facing catastrophic food insecurity.

“This is a group that’s one step away from famine,” he said, noting that about 15,000 people in specific parts of Borno are affected. He warned that death rates in those areas are “way above normal” and stated clearly that “people are starving.”

Despite a relatively good recent rainy season, Bauer emphasized that climate factors are not the main cause of the worsening situation. Instead, he pointed to ongoing violence and sharp reductions in humanitarian funding as the primary drivers of the crisis.

Due to limited resources, the agency has already been forced to halt assistance for approximately 300,000 children in Nigeria and may suspend support for up to half a million people in Cameroon.

He also warned that around 13 million children across the region could be at risk in 2026, stressing the urgent need to prioritize nutrition-focused interventions.

The agency estimates it requires $453 million over the next six months to sustain essential aid operations and prevent further declines in food consumption and child nutrition levels.

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