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•7.5m people targeted
By Uche Usim
In a concerted effort to tackle the worsening hunger ravaging Nigeria and other countries in West and Central Africa, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is collaborating with the government of the aforementioned jurisdictions to launch this year’s food assistance initiative for the lean season from June to August. Lean season is mainly the planting window when there is shortage of food and the WFP is working with hard-hit countries to close the gap.
WFP said it aims to reach 7.5 million people in the region, despite the near-record number of people needing food assistance.
However, this target falls short of addressing the severe food security issues projected for the region. The WFP estimates that 55 million people will face severe hunger during the lean season in West and Central Africa, leaving approximately 87 per cent of food-insecure individuals without support due to funding constraints.
The WFP’s statement reads, “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 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 indicated that this number could increase to 12 million people if adequate funding is secured. Yet, with dwindling resources, WFP has been forced to reduce its initial targets.
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 crisis is driven by conflicts, high food prices, and climate-related issues. Economic shocks, such as market disruptions, high inflation, weakened economic activities, depreciating 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 per cent of Nigeria’s population will face severe hunger during the lean season, while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has increased its food security outlook for Nigeria from 26 million to 32 million people for 2024. Additionally, the World Bank’s food security report earlier this year highlighted that seven states in Northern Nigeria would face a severe food crisis in 2024 due to insecurity, climate change, and other factors.
The WFP’s assistance will address only about 13 per cent of the 55 million people projected to face severe hunger during this period.
