In the statement made by the United Nations (UN) humanitarian organizations, it was informed that food prices have reached the highest level in the last 10 years due to security problems, high temperatures, irregular rains and the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the statement, it was emphasized that 48 million people in West and Central Africa will face acute food insecurity in the coming months.
Pointing out that the war in Ukraine caused food and fertilizer shortages in the poor regions of the world, the following statements were included:
“According to the regional food security analysis presented by the UN World Food Program (WFP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the number of people without regular access to safe and nutritious food has increased in June. It is estimated that it will reach 48 million in August.”
45,000 people face the catastrophe of hunger
In the statement, it was stated that the security problems in countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso affected the semi-arid Sahel region very seriously, and it was warned that this situation would cause the displacement of 2.5 million people and the death of thousands of people in the near future.
UN aid agencies noted that it is predicted that 45,000 people in the Sahel region will face starvation at the level of famine in the near future.
Estimated food shortages will mean that approximately 16.5 million children under the age of 5 will face acute malnutrition this year.
Food supply routes are blocked
WFP Emergency Preparedness and Response Consultant Alexandre Lecuziat stated at a joint press conference with other aid organizations in Dakar that food supply routes in some regions were completely blocked due to the security issue.
Lecuziat stated that helicopters were rented for the regions where aid should be delivered, which reduced the available funds.
Robert Guei, FAO’s West Africa Sub-Regional Coordinator, pointed to increasing agricultural production in the region to solve the food problem.