Acute food insecurity is expected to escalate in 18 hunger hotspots from November 2023 to April 2024, according to a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). These hotspots encompass 22 countries and territories, including two regional clusters.
Identification of Hotspots
The selection of these hotspots is a result of a consensus among food security experts and conflict, economic, and natural hazards analysts from FAO and WFP. The identified countries and territories include Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, Niger, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Djibouti, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Food security is anticipated to deteriorate significantly in these areas over the next six months.
Highest Concern Areas
Four African countries – Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan – remain at the highest level of concern. Palestine has been added to the list due to a severe escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Pakistan, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen are designated as high-risk areas in the report.
Drivers of Food Insecurity
The report highlights key drivers of food insecurity, including conflict, dry climatic conditions, economic shocks, high food prices, and extreme weather events. Weather extremes such as heavy rains, tropical storms, cyclones, flooding, drought, and increased climate variability continue to exacerbate food insecurity in some regions.
Challenges in Mali and Burkina Faso
Mali and Burkina Faso, already experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, may witness further escalation due to escalating violence, intensifying access constraints, and worsening conditions.
Challenges in South Sudan
Critical levels of food insecurity are expected to persist in South Sudan, even after harvests begin in October. This is primarily due to insufficient crop production, high staple food prices, and limited resources to support the growing number of returnees from Sudan.
Challenges in Sudan
Sudan faces severe challenges, including the devastating effects of conflict on livelihoods, agriculture, and the economy. The displacement of 4.4 million people between April and October 2023 has resulted in high levels of acute food insecurity.
Humanitarian Response
The report emphasizes the need to prevent further deterioration of acute food insecurity and malnutrition. However, humanitarian access remains limited due to organized violence, administrative impediments, and movement restrictions.
