UN Warns Of Imminent Global Famine, Flags Nigeria Among 16 Hunger Hotspots

The United Nations (UN) has sounded the alarm over a looming global famine, warning that escalating conflicts and declining humanitarian funding are pushing millions of people toward acute hunger.
In a joint report released on Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) identified Nigeria among 16 hunger hotspots, stressing that the situation in several countries could deteriorate rapidly without urgent intervention.
The report listed Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as the worst-affected nations, facing an “imminent risk of catastrophic hunger.” Other countries of “very high concern” include Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria. Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh were also highlighted.
“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” warned WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain. She added that failure to act swiftly “will only drive further instability, migration, and conflict.”
The UN agencies said funding shortfalls were severely hampering humanitarian response, noting that only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion required to assist the most vulnerable populations has been received.
Due to financial constraints, the WFP revealed it had been forced to cut food aid for refugees and displaced persons and to suspend school feeding programmes in several countries.
The FAO cautioned that agricultural support is also at risk, emphasizing that sustaining food production is vital to preventing future crises. “Funding is needed for seeds and livestock health services before planting seasons begin or new shocks occur,” the agency said.
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