Urgent action needed as hunger crisis escalates globally
November 01, 2024 | United Nations, Federal
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A recent report has identified 16 critical hunger hotspots across 22 countries and territories, warning of a significant deterioration in acute food insecurity over the next six months. The report, which covers the period from November 2024 to May 2025, highlights the urgent need for immediate assistance to prevent millions from facing starvation.
The report categorizes the hotspots into three levels of concern. The highest level includes Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, where famine conditions are either ongoing or imminent. The second tier encompasses countries like Chad, Lebanon, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen, which are experiencing critical food insecurity exacerbated by conflict and economic instability. The remaining hotspots include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with recent additions of Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, and Indonesia due to climate extremes.
Key drivers of food insecurity in these regions include armed conflict, climate change, and economic challenges. The report emphasizes that conflict remains the primary cause, leading to widespread displacement and disruption of food systems. The ongoing La Niña weather pattern is also expected to adversely affect food production in vulnerable areas.
Specific situations in Sudan and Haiti are particularly dire. In Sudan, over 21 million people are facing acute food insecurity, with famine conditions reported in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons. The conflict is projected to worsen, further complicating humanitarian access. In Haiti, escalating violence has pushed millions deeper into hunger, with urgent action needed to prevent starvation.
The report underscores the importance of early intervention to mitigate food insecurity, stating that proactive measures are more cost-effective than responding to crises after they occur. As the situation continues to evolve, the report calls for coordinated efforts to address the complex interplay of conflict, climate, and economic factors driving food insecurity in these hotspots.
The report categorizes the hotspots into three levels of concern. The highest level includes Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, where famine conditions are either ongoing or imminent. The second tier encompasses countries like Chad, Lebanon, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen, which are experiencing critical food insecurity exacerbated by conflict and economic instability. The remaining hotspots include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with recent additions of Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, and Indonesia due to climate extremes.
Key drivers of food insecurity in these regions include armed conflict, climate change, and economic challenges. The report emphasizes that conflict remains the primary cause, leading to widespread displacement and disruption of food systems. The ongoing La Niña weather pattern is also expected to adversely affect food production in vulnerable areas.
Specific situations in Sudan and Haiti are particularly dire. In Sudan, over 21 million people are facing acute food insecurity, with famine conditions reported in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons. The conflict is projected to worsen, further complicating humanitarian access. In Haiti, escalating violence has pushed millions deeper into hunger, with urgent action needed to prevent starvation.
The report underscores the importance of early intervention to mitigate food insecurity, stating that proactive measures are more cost-effective than responding to crises after they occur. As the situation continues to evolve, the report calls for coordinated efforts to address the complex interplay of conflict, climate, and economic factors driving food insecurity in these hotspots.
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