Countries in the West Africa are experiencing the most severe food crisis over the past 10 years – more than 27 million people are already suffering from hunger, according to the Norwegian refugee affairs.
It is indicated that the number of starving may increase to 38 million in June of this year – this will be a new record – if urgent measures are not taken.
“Financing should be increased now so that millions of families do not encounter this choice. Since the Ukrainian crisis has an increasing pressure on the budgets for help, it is impossible to forget about people in the regions of Sahel and Lake Chad,” said Morin Magi, Norwegian Regional Director Refugee Council in Central and West Africa.
The production of grain in this region of Africa decreased by about a third. Droughts, floods, conflicts and economic consequences of the Pandemic COVID-19 forced millions of people to leave their lands.
Over the past five years, food prices in West Africa rose by 20-30% and may grow by another 20% this year.
“The crisis in Ukraine is dangerous exacerbating the situation … It will probably lead to a significant reduction in wheat availability for six West African countries that import at least 30%, and in some cases more than 50% of its wheat from Russia or Ukraine,” The message says.