The World Food Programme (WFP) has promised to increase its food and nutrition assistance programme in some countries in West and Central Africa in June.
According to WFP, the programme hopes to reach 7.3 million people as the June-August lean season is underway at a time when hunger levels are high and food resources are low.
The programme will aid the response plans of national governments in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
In a statement released on Tuesday by WFP, it stated that with the right amount of funding, WFP’s initiative can reach 12 million people.
However, with diminishing resources available, the international body said that humanitarians working with the programme had reached fewer people than anticipated.
This comes as malnutrition in West and Central Africa is reaching alarming levels, along with a projection that 55 million people will face acute hunger during the lean season.
Chris Nikoi, WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa, disclosed that this crisis calls for “transformative solutions” to assist vulnerable families with food and other needs.
“We need to continue prioritizing emergency response for those most in need
“But, we need more investment in sustainable solutions to help strengthen food security, improve agricultural productivity and purchasing power of families at the right time and cushion economic and climate shocks,” Mr. Nikoi said.
WFP said this is worrying since the 2024 seasonal forecast reveals weather that could disrupt farming and prolong the next lean season.
“The escalation of humanitarian needs far outstrips available resources,” Mr Nikoi said. “The only way out of this cycle is to prioritize durable solutions.”