West Central Africa, food insecurity and malnutrition reach their highest crisis level in ten years

ROME – The highest peak food crisis ever in the last decade: the new job of World Food Programme (WFP) does not leave high hopes for West and Central African countries, especially Mali and Burkina Faso, and also sounds an alarm for coastal nations.

The famine. For the first time in the Sahel, 45,000 people in 2023 will experience catastrophic levels of hunger – reads the dossier. More exactly: 42,000 people in Burkina Faso and 2,500 in Mali. The combined effects of the conflict, climate change, the pandemic and the increase in the price of food products affect security levels throughout the Sahel region, where many inhabitants already today do not have access to nutritious food and clean water.

Malnutrition. According to World Food Programme“The spiraling food security and nutritional situation in West Africa is simply heartbreaking,” explains Chris Nikoi, director of the Humanitarian Organization and UN agency committed to saving lives by providing food assistance in emergencies. Sixteen and a half million children with less 5-year-olds are already battling severe malnutrition, which 4.8 million children has already become debilitating.The data is alarming because there has been an 83 percent increase in severe acute malnutrition over the average recorded in the years between 2015 and 2022. Apart from the difficulties of having a diversified, nutritious and healthy diet, especially for women and children, conflicts and the consequent displacement of the population are one of the crucial factors in the deterioration of living conditions, because reduce access to essential services, including health care.

The risks. Between 2019 and 2023, security-related incidents increased by 79 percent across the Sahel region, resulting in massive displacements of the entire population and cutting off access to land for agriculture and grazing. “It is increasingly difficult to help people who live in the most isolated areas,” says Marie-Pierre Poirier, Unicef ​​director for West and Central Africa. Poirier says his organization is helping local governments strengthen health systems to address child malnutrition and is implementing awareness campaigns to prevent it.

The lack of food autonomy. Despite improved rainfall in 2022, food access and availability remain a major concern. The Sahel remains dependent on imports even at a time when inflation is sending prices through the roof. “The continued deterioration of the food situation in West Africa and the Sahel is unacceptable. Despite the increase in cereal production, access to food for the majority of the population remains difficult also due to food prices,” explained Robert Guei, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa.