Over the June to November period, the need for food is headed to worsen in 18 “hot spots” in 22 countries, now dependent on food aid to survive. The report, “Hunger Hotspots,” was issued this week by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program.
The UN May 29 press release reported on the nations in the most dire circumstances among the group of 22 worst-off nations. The release did not summarize the numbers of people, but, of the one billion people today lacking reliable food, some 380 million have reached a point of desperation.
“Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Syrian Arab Republic are hotspots with very high concern, and the warning is also extended to Myanmar in this edition. All these hotspots have a high number of people facing critical acute food insecurity, coupled with worsening drivers that are expected to further intensify life threatening conditions in the coming months.”
The report gives details in each of the 22 nations, where starvation is threatened. The release issues an appeal. “Urgent and scaled-up assistance is required in all 18 hunger hotspots to protect livelihoods and increase access to food. This is essential to avert a further deterioration of acute food insecurity and malnutrition. In the hotspots of highest concerns, humanitarian actions are critical in preventing further starvation and death.”
