The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has partnered with the governments of Nigeria and other African countries to launch this year’s food assistance program for the lean season, running from June to August.
In a recent statement, the WFP announced its goal to reach 7.5 million people in the region, despite the near-record number of individuals in need of food assistance. However, the program’s target falls significantly short of the estimated 55 million people projected to face severe food security issues in West and Central Africa during this period.
This stark discrepancy highlights the severe funding constraints facing the WFP, which means around 87% of food-insecure people in the region will not receive the necessary support.
“The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is ramping up its lifesaving food and nutrition assistance programme in West and Central Africa, targeting 7.3 million people during the ongoing June-August lean season – when food stocks run out and hunger peaks,” the WFP stated. “The programme – which kicks off in June – supports national governments’ lean season response plans in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria.”
The WFP also noted that the number of people targeted could expand to 12 million if adequate funding is secured. However, dwindling resources for humanitarian operations have forced the WFP to assist fewer people than originally planned, despite near-record levels of need.
West and Central Africa are experiencing one of the worst food security crises in a generation, exacerbated by double-digit inflation across the region. The ongoing hunger and nutrition crisis is driven by the combined effects of conflicts, high food prices, and the climate crisis.
Economic shocks, including market disruptions, high inflation, weakened economic activities, depreciating national currencies, and rising costs of fuel and agricultural inputs, have severely impacted people, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) projects that around 16% of Nigeria’s population will face severe hunger during the lean season from June to August. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has also increased its food security outlook for Nigeria, predicting that the number of people facing a food crisis will rise from 26 million to 32 million in 2024.
Earlier this year, the World Bank’s food security report indicated that seven states in Northern Nigeria would face a severe food security crisis in 2024 due to factors like insecurity, climate change, and other challenges.
The projected assistance from the WFP will meet roughly 13% of the total 55 million people projected to face severe hunger during this period, underscoring the urgent need for increased funding and coordinated efforts to address the food security crisis in the region.
Given the severity of the situation, the WFP has called for immediate international support to expand its reach and provide critical food assistance to millions more in need.
