The World Food Programme (WFP) issued a dire warning on Friday regarding the escalating hunger crisis in West and Central Africa, with the number of people struggling to meet their basic food needs reaching “record levels.” According to a statement released by the agency, over 36 million people in the region are facing severe hunger, a figure that is expected to increase to 52 million during the lean season, which spans the summer months between harvests.
“Persistent conflict, displacement, economic deterioration, and recurrent extreme weather in West and Central Africa are driving millions of people towards emergency levels of hunger,” the WFP stated.
The crisis has been exacerbated by a significant reduction in funding, with the WFP previously describing the situation as an “unprecedented crisis” in late March. A 40-percent cut in the agency’s funding for 2025 has had severe consequences for its ability to respond effectively.
Additionally, the suspension of aid programs under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, along with cuts in aid spending by several Western nations, has deepened the problem.
At the end of April, the WFP warned that it would be forced to reduce its global workforce by 25 to 30 percent due to these financial constraints. Unless urgent funding is secured, the agency has stated that five million people risk losing vital assistance altogether.
“We are at a tipping point, and millions of lives are at stake,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP’s regional director for West and Central Africa. “Without immediate funding, WFP will be forced to scale down even further both in the number of people reached and the size of food rations distributed.”
This alarming situation underscores the urgency of continued international support for the WFP’s efforts in alleviating hunger and providing life-saving assistance in the region. With the lean season approaching, the need for rapid intervention and adequate funding has never been more critical.
