Including Palestine.. The UN warns of the danger of hunger in 16 countries

SadaNews - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme have warned of the worsening crisis of severe food insecurity in 16 countries, endangering the lives of millions of people, especially in conflict areas and regions affected by climate disasters.

A joint report titled "Hotspots of Hunger" stated that six countries are facing the risk of famine or catastrophic hunger, namely Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and Yemen, noting that some communities in these countries "may reach a state of famine or something close to it".

The report added that other countries are experiencing a concerning deterioration in food security, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan, along with Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, explained that famine "is not an inevitable fate", emphasizing that the international community has "the tools and knowledge to prevent it, but what is lacking is the resources and political will to act immediately". She added that children are the most vulnerable group, as malnutrition weakens their immunity and increases the risk of disease and death.

The report indicated that conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of hunger in 14 out of the 16 hunger hotspots in the world, while economic shocks, fragility of local economies, and rising prices exacerbate the crisis. It also pointed out that extreme climate phenomena such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes related to the "La Niña" phenomenon, in addition to the decline in humanitarian aid and funding shortages, have all contributed to the expansion of hunger.

Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, stated that "conflict remains the primary driver of hunger, but climate shocks and economic instability exacerbate the crisis, leaving millions without a safety net".

The two organizations urged for urgent and proactive actions to prevent famine, to invest in building resilience, and to address the root causes of the crisis, warning that "delayed action will cost lives that could be saved and increase the long-term humanitarian cost".