NAIROBI, Kenya – A severe food crisis is rapidly intensifying across Africa, driving millions of people into heightened risk of hunger and starvation. This crisis, fueled by a combination of factors including the war in Ukraine, regional conflicts, extreme weather events, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, threatens the lives and well-being of vulnerable communities, particularly women and children.
Alarming Statistics
More than 1 billion people in Africa struggle to afford a healthy diet. Addressing child hunger is critical, as approximately 30% of children on the continent suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition. An estimated 20% of Africa’s population is undernourished, with 57 million more people facing hunger since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, an estimated 868 million people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in Africa, with over one-third of those facing severe food insecurity.
Reversing Progress
Hunger trends in Africa indicate that progress made over the decades has abruptly reversed. After a prolonged period of improvement since 2000, hunger significantly worsened between 2019 and 2022. In 2023, World Vision supported over 25.4 million people, including 14 million children, across 28 countries, with 18 of those countries in Africa.
Key Drivers of Hunger
Conflict, extreme weather events, poverty, and instability are the primary drivers of hunger in Africa. These issues lead to food shortages and limit access to nutritious food. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have exacerbated these shortages, further straining already vulnerable populations.
Regional Focus
The hunger crisis is particularly severe in the Horn of Africa and the West and Central Africa regions.
The Horn of Africa
In the Horn of Africa, millions face acute hunger amid one of the worst droughts in decades. This crisis is intensified by armed conflict, the effects of COVID-19, and soaring food prices due to the war in Ukraine. Severe conditions have uprooted families from their communities, exacerbating displacement and hygiene crises.
- Sudan: Escalating conflict in 2023 has added 8.6 million people to those facing extreme hunger.
- Somalia: Between October and December 2023, 4.3 million people experienced acute food insecurity, with 1 million threatened by starvation. Additional factors contributing to this crisis include drought, extreme weather, and limited humanitarian assistance due to funding constraints.
West and Central Africa
In West and Central Africa, 49.5 million people may go hungry by August 2024, with coastal areas hardest hit. Conflict, extreme weather events, and high prices are significant drivers of food insecurity in the region. Funding shortages have strained aid efforts, threatening a greater risk of child malnutrition.
- Niger: 82% of Niger’s population faces insufficient food consumption due to recent price surges, with 1.9 million children under 5 expected to be acutely malnourished.