Among them Palestine.. The United Nations 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 warned of the worsening crisis of acute food insecurity in 16 countries, putting the lives of millions at risk, especially in conflict areas and climate disasters.

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

The report added that other countries are witnessing a troubling deterioration in food security, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan, alongside Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, as well as the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, clarified that famine "is not a predetermined fate," emphasizing that the international community has "the tools and knowledge to prevent it, but what is lacking is 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 diseases and death.

The report indicated that conflict and violence remain the main driver of hunger in 14 out of the 16 hunger hotspots worldwide, 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 linked to the "La Niña" phenomenon, in addition to a decline in humanitarian assistance and funding shortages, have all contributed to the expansion of hunger.

Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, stated, "Conflict remains the primary driver of hunger, but climate shocks and economic instability intensify the crisis, leaving millions without safety nets."

The two organizations called for urgent and proactive actions to prevent famine, invest in resilience building, and address the root causes of the crisis, warning that "delaying action will cost lives that can be saved and increase the humanitarian cost in the long run."

Source: Al Jazeera