More than 40 million people in West and Central Africa are struggling with hunger, a number expected to rise to 52 million by mid-2025, according to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
In a report released on Friday, the WFP revealed that 3.4 million individuals are currently experiencing “emergency levels of hunger,” marking a 70% increase since the summer.
The report identifies conflict, displacement, economic instability, and severe climate shocks as the main contributors to the region’s food insecurity. Ongoing violence in the Sahel and Sudanese civil war have displaced over 10 million people, while massive flooding in Nigeria and Chad earlier this year has exacerbated the crisis.
While the figures are alarming, the WFP noted a slight improvement compared to last year, with 7.7 million fewer people facing food insecurity. This reduction is attributed to better-than-average rainfall and marginal security improvements, though these gains are unlikely to continue.
A Growing Challenge
The WFP projects that by next year, food insecurity will affect nearly one in ten people in West and Central Africa, home to over half a billion residents.
Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa, emphasized the need for a proactive approach to tackle the crisis.
“The vicious cycle of hunger in the region can be broken with better planning and preparedness,” Van der Velden stated. She called for “timely, flexible, and predictable funding” to deliver lifesaving aid and urged for substantial investments in preparedness, anticipatory action, and resilience-building to empower communities and reduce future humanitarian needs.
The report underscores the urgent need for global attention and coordinated efforts to address the escalating hunger crisis in the region.