Millions in West and Central Africa face severe food shortages
Violent conflicts and drastic budget cuts are pushing millions of people in West and Central Africa toward a catastrophic food crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that 55 million people, including 13 million children, are at risk of severe starvation this summer. Without immediate action, the situation could escalate into a full-blown humanitarian disaster.
In a recent assessment, the WFP reveals that over three million people in the region are expected to face emergency-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 4) this year—a figure that has more than doubled since 2020. The crisis is most severe in four countries: Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger, where 77% of the affected population resides. Notably, 15,000 people in Borno State, Nigeria, are at risk of catastrophic famine (IPC Phase 5), a level not seen in nearly a decade.
Funding shortages worsen hunger in Mali, Nigeria, and Cameroon
Rising violence, mass displacement, and economic instability have already exacerbated food insecurity across the region. Now, reduced humanitarian aid is pushing communities to their breaking points.
- Mali: Cuts to food rations have led to a 64% surge in acute hunger in some areas, while regions receiving full rations saw a 34% decline in malnutrition. Ongoing insecurity disrupts supply chains, leaving 1.5 million vulnerable Malians on the brink of crisis.
- Nigeria: In 2025, funding shortages forced the WFP to scale back its nutrition programs, impacting over 300,000 children. Malnutrition has worsened from “severe” to “critical” in northern states, with only 72,000 people set to receive aid in February—down from 1.3 million last year.
- Cameroon: Half a million vulnerable individuals risk losing access to life-saving aid if emergency funding isn’t secured within weeks.
13 million children at risk of starvation
The WFP’s Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis warned that 13 million children in the region are facing hunger this year. Without urgent support, malnutrition-related deaths could rise sharply.
Jean Martin Bauer, speaking from Rome, emphasized the severity of the situation: “When we refer to IPC 5, we’re talking about 15,000 people in northeastern Nigeria and parts of Borno State. This classification means immediate risk of mortality.”
Bauer added, “Unfortunately, this means mortality rates are far above normal levels. To be clear, people are dying of hunger. We must ensure that aid reaches the most vulnerable, including children who are otherwise healthy but facing extreme hardship.”
WFP seeks $453 million in urgent funding
The recurring food crises highlight the urgent need for a more proactive approach to prevent vulnerable populations from facing famine year after year. To break this cycle, the WFP is calling for a paradigm shift in 2026—one that prioritizes early action, resilience-building, and long-term solutions.
The agency urgently requires $453 million over the next six months to continue delivering critical humanitarian aid across the region. Sarah Longford, WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa, stressed the importance of this support: “It’s essential that we support crisis-stricken communities to prevent hunger from fueling further instability, displacement, and conflict.”
Proven solutions exist—but funding is lacking
For years, the WFP has been addressing the root causes of acute food insecurity in West Africa through resilience programs, school feeding initiatives, community infrastructure projects, and support to governments for social protection systems.
These efforts have already yielded tangible results. Since 2018, resilience programs have rehabilitated over 300,000 hectares of degraded land, transforming barren landscapes into arable farmland and protecting four million people from climate shocks.
Bauer concluded, “The solutions exist. The problem is they’re not funded. We know what works—we just need the resources to implement it.”
