Hunger Crisis is Set to Get Worse in West and Central Africa – Why and What To Do About It

March 13, 2026

West Africa, the Sahel region, and Cameroon are experiencing a severe food security crisis that is expected to affect over 50 million people during the June-August 2026 lean season. The crisis stems from multiple interconnected factors including armed conflict that disrupts markets and agriculture, climate-related flooding and environmental stress, economic shocks with rising food prices, and massive displacement of populations. A critical funding shortage in humanitarian assistance has worsened the situation dramatically, with only about half of required aid being mobilized by early 2025, forcing organizations like the World Food Programme to reduce food rations in countries such as Mali.

Who is affected

41.78 million people facing food insecurity between October-December 2025
52.78-55 million people projected to be at risk during the June-August 2026 lean season
13 million children at risk of malnutrition
6.47 million internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo
3.54 million internally displaced persons in Nigeria
1.0 million internally displaced persons in Cameroon
0.59 million internally displaced persons in Niger
Populations in conflict-affected areas including the Central Sahel/Liptako-Gourma region and Lake Chad Basin
Communities in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, and other West African nations

What action is being taken

The World Food Programme is delivering food assistance, though with reduced rations in countries like Mali due to funding shortfalls
Unicef is delivering food "despite funding constraints" in Burkina Faso
Humanitarian operations are running with major funding gaps, with only about 50% of required funding mobilized by early 2025
NGOs are scaling up cash transfers where markets function and providing in-kind aid in conflict-isolated areas
Cadre Harmonisé framework is being used for ongoing analysis and identification of areas at risk
Nutrition programming and assistance are being provided, though at reduced levels

Why it matters

This crisis represents one of the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies, affecting tens of millions of people across multiple countries. The situation is particularly significant because it demonstrates how funding shortages directly translate into increased hunger and mortality—evidence from Mali shows a 64% surge in crisis-level hunger where rations were cut versus a 34% decline where full rations were maintained. The crisis threatens an entire generation of children, with 13 million at risk of malnutrition, which has long-term implications for human development and regional stability. Additionally, the situation illustrates how overlapping crises (conflict, climate change, economic shocks, and governance failures) create compounding effects that make resolution more difficult. The scale of displacement—over 11 million internally displaced persons across just four countries—destabilizes entire regions and strains host communities, creating cascading economic and social impacts that extend beyond immediate food insecurity.

What's next

*Short-term:**
Governments and regional bodies should treat the lean season as a predictable hazard and ensure markets can function and aid can reach affected populations
Donors should provide urgent funding to prevent loss of assistance to millions and ensure nutrition-specific support is delivered alongside general food aid and cash transfers
NGOs should continue scaling up cash transfers where markets function and shift to in-kind aid in conflict-isolated areas
*Medium-term:**
Governments should expand social protection systems that can rapidly scale up during price spikes or climate shocks
Regional bodies should ease cross-border trade and issue early warnings to reduce policy uncertainty
Humanitarian and development actors should focus on livelihood recovery for displaced populations, including land restoration investments
*Long-term:**
National governments and regional security mechanisms must pursue durable stabilization strategies to address insecurity
Investments needed in human capital and basic services including primary healthcare, safe water, and child feeding programs
Building climate resilience through water control, soil fertility management, rangeland management, and diversified income strategies, with financing structures that reward prevention rather than only response

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint