UN warns famine risk in 20 countries, 4 considered critical
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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN along with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that acute food insecurity rates are reaching new heights globally.
The early warning "Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity Hotspots" issued by FAO and WFP describes a toxic combination of conflict, economic decline, climate extremes, and the COVID-19 pandemic that is driving people further into the emergency phase of food insecurity.
Among the 20 nations that are considered global hotspots, Yemen, Burkina Faso in West Africa's Sahel region, Northeastern Nigeria and South Sudan contain areas that could soon slip into famine if the conditions there deteriorate in the coming months.
The rest 16 are at a high risk of rising levels of acute hunger. The situation in these countries will be based on the food price, affects of COVID-19 on their food systems, rainfall and harvest outcomes.
"This report is a clear call to urgent action," said Dominique Burgeon, FAO's Director of Emergencies and resilience.
In 2011, Somalia suffered a famine that killed 260,000 people, although the famine was declared by June most of the deaths had occurred by May.