Millions of people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity by Integrated Food Security Phase Classification   Somalia: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for January - March 2025 and Projection for April - June 2025   Nearly 3.4 million people (17 percent of the analysed population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity between January to March 2025. Of that total, 442,000 people are in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 2.9 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   An estimated 1.7 million children between 6-59 months in Somalia will likely suffer acute malnutrition in 2025, including 466,000 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 1.2 million Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases. Around 64 percent of cases are concentrated in southern Somalia.   Poor rainfall has reduced crop yields and depleted pasture and water sources, while localized flooding has damaged crops and displaced riverine communities. Conflict and insecurity continue to disrupt livelihoods and restrict market access.   Although the current food insecurity levels have improved by compared to last year—mainly due to better rainfall and humanitarian aid—conditions are expected to worsen. Between April and June 2025, below-average rainfall, high food prices, conflict, and further flooding could push 4.4 million people (23 percent of the population) into IPC Phase 3 or above.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159510/?iso3=SOM   Burkina Faso: Acute Malnutrition Situation August 2024 - January 2025 and Projections for February - April 2025 and May - July 2025   Between August 2024 to July 2025, approximately 425,637 children aged 6-59 months are facing/expected to face elevated levels of acute malnutrition in 26 provinces, 18 municipalities and one region. The number of cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is expected to be 110,308. As for pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW), nearly 40,000 are likely to suffer acute malnutrition in the same period.   Over the first projected period of February to April 2025, an modest improvement is expected, with five provinces and two communes moving from Phase 3 to IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert). One municipality is likely to experience a deterioration, moving towards Phase 3.   The nutritional situation is expected to deteriorate further in the second projection period from May to July 2025, with 12 provinces in the South-West region likely to move to a higher IPC phase.   Among the key contributing factors of acute malnutrition in the areas analysed include low food diversification and high prevalence of children morbidities, particularly in the South-West, Plateau Central, Cascades and Sahel. Diarrhoea (up to 27 percent in some areas) and respiratory infections (between 5.9 percent and 36.9 percent) are associated with limited access to health services, poor hygiene conditions and sanitation (inaccessibility to sanitation facilities) and reduced access to drinking water.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159499/?iso3=BFA   Madagascar: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for September - December 2024 and Projections for January - April 2025 and May - August 2025   Between September and December 2024, around 1.63 million people, or some 15 percent of the population analysed faced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), requiring an urgent humanitarian response. Of these, 1.58 million people were in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and 48,000 in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). The most affected districts were Androy and Atsimo Andrefana in the Grand Sud, and Befotaka and Farafangana in the Grand Sud-Est.   For the first projected period (January to April 2025), food insecurity is expected to worsen, with 1.94 million people (18 percent of the population analysed) expected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 3 or above). Climatic impacts, particularly low rainfall and cyclones/floods in certain regions, combined with the lean season, have increased household vulnerability.   During the second projected period (May to August 2025), some improvement in the food situation is hoped for, although areas of vulnerability will remain.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159493/?iso3=MDG   Niger: Acute Malnutrition Situation for August - November 2024 and Projections for December 2024 - April 2025 and for May - July 2025   Nearly 1.7 million children, aged 6 to 59 months, are projected to suffer acute malnutrition between August 2024 and July 2025. This includes 412,400 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and almost 1.3 million cases of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Additionally, 96,200 pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) are expected to suffer acute malnutrition in the same period.   The departments with the highest number of malnourished children between August 2024 and July 2025 include those in the Critical and Serious phases, which together account for a significant portion of the country's total malnutrition caseload.   The major drivers of acute malnutrition in Niger include inadequate quantity and poor quality of children's diets, high prevalence of diseases, inadequate access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and low hygiene practices. Additionally, reduced access to health and nutrition services and high levels of food insecurity exacerbate acute malnutrition levels. Lastly, other risk factors like widespread shocks, including potential environmental and economic challenges, continue to negatively impact the nutrition situation.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159477/?iso3=NER   Lebanon: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for October - November 2024 and Projection for December 2024 - March 2025   Between October and November 2024, about 1.59 million Lebanese, Syrian refugees, and Palestine refugees experienced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Among them, about 205,000 people (4 percent of the population analysed) experienced IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 1.4 million people (25 percent of the population analysed) experienced IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   These results show an increase compared to the 1.26 million people in Phase 3 or above estimated for the April-September 2024 period by the IPC analysis projection update conducted in March 2024. The significant deterioration of more than 300,000 people in Phase 3 or above is mainly attributed to the compounded impact of conflict and large displacement on aggregate sectors of Lebanese economy such as trade and tourism, which further aggravated the deep economic crisis of the recent years.   For the current period of analysis (October to November 2024), the details of the population analysed showed that a total of 928,000 Lebanese residents (24 percent of the resident population), 579,000 Syrian refugees (38 percent of the total Syrian refugee population in Lebanon), and 84,000 Palestinian refugees (40 percent of the total Palestinian refugee population in Lebanon) experienced Phase 3 or above.   Between December 2024 and March 2025, a deterioration of the food security situation is expected with about 1.65 million people (30 percent of the analysed population) likely to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). A total of 201,000 individuals (4 percent) are likely to experience Phase 4, and 1.45 million people (26 percent) are likely to experience Phase 3.   These populations require urgent humanitarian action to reduce food gaps, protect and restore livelihoods and prevent acute malnutrition.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159456/?iso3=LBN   Mozambique: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for August - September 2024 and Projection for October 2024 - March 2025   Between October 2024 and March 2025, 1.98 million people are projected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Of that total, 212,000 are likely to experience IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 1.7 million people are likely to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   This marks a stark deterioration from the current period (August to September 2024), where 1.49 million people were classified in IPC Phase 3 or above. There were 46,000 people classified in Phase 4 and 1.4 million people were in Phase 3. The increase of people classified in Phase 4 is particularly concerning.   Emphasis is on the districts that are projected to move from IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) to IPC Phase 3 or above (Balama, Montepuez, Namuno in Cabo Delgado, Mandimbaand Marrupa in Niassa, Chibabava in Sofala and KaMubucuana and KaMavota in the City of Maputo).   The key drivers of the acute food insecurity situation include the El Nino-induced drought which significantly affected the 2023/24 rainy and agricultural season in a large part of the country – particularly the central region. The southern region recorded heavy rains in March associated with tropical storm Filipo which affected 130,000 people.   The presence of government and local forces have helped maintain relative stability in Cabo Delgado province in recent months. However, small, scattered groups of armed actors continue to operate in several locations in Cabo Delgado, including Chiure, Metuge, Quissanga, Ancuabe, Mocimboa da Praia, Macomia and Mecufi, leading to continued tension and fear of new attacks.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159459/?iso3=MOZ   Afghanistan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for September - October 2024 and Projection for November 2024 - March 2025   Approximately 14.8 million people are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity due to multi-year micro and macroeconomic instabilities, coupled with adverse climate conditions.   In the current period (September to October 2024), an estimated 11.6 million people (25 percent of the total population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). Of these, about 1.8 million people (4 percent of the total population) are in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and around 9.8 million people (21 percent of the total population) are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   The projection period (November 2024 to March 2025), which coincides with the peak of the lean season, will see 14.8 million people (32 percent of the total population) classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). This includes 3.1 million people (7 percent of the total population) classified in Phase 4 and 11.6 million (25 percent of the total population) in Phase 3.   Nearly 3.5 million children, aged 6 to 59 months, are suffering or projected to suffer acute malnutrition between June 2024 and May 2025 and require urgent interventions. This includes 867,300 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and almost 2.6 million cases of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Additionally, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW) are expected to suffer acute malnutrition in the same period.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159434/?iso3=AFG   Sudan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation - Updated Projections and FRC conclusions for October 2024 to May 2025   Twenty months into the conflict, Sudan continues to slide into a widening Famine crisis characterized by widespread starvation and a significant surge in acute malnutrition. The IPC Famine Review Committee (FRC) has detected Famine in at least five areas and projects that five additional areas will face Famine between December 2024 and May 2025. Furthermore, there is a risk of Famine in seventeen additional areas.   Half of the population (24.6 million people) is facing high levels of acute food insecurity. This marks an unprecedented deepening and widening of the food and nutrition crisis, driven by the devastating conflict, which has triggered unprecedented mass displacement, a collapsing economy, the breakdown of essential social services, and severe societal disruptions, and poor humanitarian access.   According to the FRC, Famine (IPC Phase 5) detected in August 2024 in Zamzam camp, North Darfur state, has persisted and expanded to Al Salam and Abu shouk camps and the Western Nuba Mountains for the period October to November 2024. Between December 2024 and May 2025, Famine is projected to expand in North Darfur localities including Um Kadadah, Melit, El Fasher, At Tawisha, and Al Lait. There is a risk of Famine in the Central Nuba Mountains (including in Delami, Western Kadugli, Um Durein, and Al Buram localities), and in areas likely to experience high influxes of IDPs in North and South Darfur. These include Tawila, Nyala Janoub, Nyala Shimal, Beliel, Shattaya, As Sunta, Buram, and Kas in South Darfur, as well as Medani Al Kubra and Sharg Al Jazirah in Al Jazirah State, Mayo and Alingaz in Jebel – Awilia, Khartoum state and Al Firdous in East Darfur state.   Between December and May 2025, 24.6 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). These results mark a stark increase of 3.5 million people compared to the number originally projected and correspond to over half of the population of Sudan. This includes about 15.9 million people (33 percent) classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 8.1 million people (17 percent) in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), and at least 638,000 people (1 percent) in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe).   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159433/?iso3=SDN   South Sudan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for September - November 2024 and Projections for December 2024 - March 2025 and for April - July 2025   The acute food insecurity and malnutrition situation in South Sudan is deteriorating as a result of the economic crisis, repeated climatic shocks – primarily widespread flooding – and conflict and insecurity. The inflow of returnees and refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan is exacerbating the situation – putting additional pressure on an already fragile country.   Between September and November 2024, an estimated 6.3 million people (47 percent of the population analysed) are classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). Of this total, 1.71 million people are facing critical levels of acute food insecurity – classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and a further 41,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity or IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). The population in Phase 5 (Catastrophe) includes 10,000 people in Malakal county (Upper Nile State) and an estimated 31,000 South Sudanese returnees who have fled Sudan because of the ongoing conflict. Compared to the same period last year, this indicates an increase of approximately 500,000 people in Phase 3 or above.   In the harvest/post-harvest projection period of December 2024 to March 2025, an estimated 6.1 million people (45 percent of the population analysed) will likely experience IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). Of this total, 1.71 million people are projected to be in Phase 4 and 31,000 South Sudanese returnees will likely experience Phase 5 (Catastrophe).   In the second projection period of April to July 2025, the food security situation is expected to deteriorate with the arrival of the lean season. It is likely that an estimated 7.69 million people (57 percent of the population analysed) will be in Phase 3 or above. This will include 2.53 million people likely to be in Phase 4 and 63,000 people likely to be in Phase 5 (Catastrophe).   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1158829/?iso3=SSD   Democratic Republic of the Congo: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for July - December 2024 and Projection for January - June 2025   Armed violence and conflict continue to affect the livelihoods of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This, combined with soaring food prices and the prolonged effects of various epidemics have left approximately 25.6 million in high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse).   Between July to December 2024, around 3 percent of people (around 3.1 million people) are facing critical levels of food insecurity – IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) – characterized by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition. Another 19 percent (22.4 million people) are facing crisis levels of food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   The affected populations are spread throughout the country, however, the most affected populations are mainly displaced people and returnees – concentrated in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu and Tanganyika, Maindombe – as well as populations affected by natural disasters and unemployment.   The analysis projected for January to June 2025 indicates a situation where food insecurity rates are expected to be almost identical to those of the current situation, with 25.5 million people (22 percent of the population analysed) projected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phases 3 or above), including around 3.3 million people who are projected to face critical levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 4) and 22.2 million people who will likely be in Phase 3.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1158150/?iso3=COD   Central African Republic: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for September 2024 - March 2025 and Projection for April - August 2025   Between September 2024 and March 2025, approximately 2 million people (31 percent of the analysed population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity - classified as IPC Phase 3 or above. Nearly 1.7 million people are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), and 307,000 are facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4).   The populations most affected include those who experienced low yields from agricultural production and have already depleted their food reserves. This group includes casual labourers, displaced households, and poor urban families reliant on the market for their food needs.   Despite some seasonal improvement compared to the previous update in April 2024—when 2.5 million people (41 percent of the population) were classified in Phase 3 or above —the situation remains concerning due to several factors. These include economic access challenges for certain households, a lack of food reserves, disruptions in internal and cross-border supply chains due to armed violence, flooding impacts, irregular rainfall affecting agriculture (the primary livelihood in most areas), and population displacement.   The situation is expected to deteriorate between April and August 2025 if necessary measures are not implemented. About 2.25 million people (35 percent of the analysed population) will likely experience Crisis (Phase 3) and Emergency (Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity. During this period, it is estimated that around 1.82 million people will be in Phase 3 and approximately 431,000 people will be in Phase 4.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159189/?iso3=CAF   Gaza Strip: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for September - October 2024 and Projection for November 2024 - April 2025   Violence has displaced nearly 2 million people, decimated livelihoods, crippled food systems, destroyed 70 percent of crop fields, severely restricted humanitarian operations and resulted in the collapse of health services and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems. Catastrophic acute food insecurity and concerning acute malnutrition levels will continue to prevail if the conflict continues, and humanitarian activities are restricted.   Between September and October 2024, the whole territory is classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). About 1.84 million people across the Gaza Strip are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above, including nearly 133,000 people facing catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) and 664,000, in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Acute Malnutrition is at serious levels (IPC AMN Phase 3), ten times higher than before the escalation of the hostilities.   Nearly the entire population has been displaced multiple times, often under continued shelling and aerial bombardments. Many households, especially the most vulnerable, are unable to relocate or find safe shelter. The majority are living in temporary makeshift camps with an alarming density of almost 40,000 people per square kilometer. The evacuation orders and the military offensive, which further intensified in the past weeks have significantly disrupted humanitarian operations, and repeated displacements have steadily worn-down people’s ability to cope and access food, water and medicine, deepening the vulnerability of entire communities.   A temporary surge of humanitarian assistance and commercial supply between May and August 2024 partly alleviated acute food insecurity and malnutrition conditions. However, September saw the lowest volume of commercial and humanitarian supplies entering Gaza since March 2024. This sharp decline will profoundly limit food availability and the ability of families to feed themselves and access services in the next few months. The upcoming winter season is expected to bring colder temperatures along with rain and potential flooding. Seasonal diseases and increasingly limited access to water and health services are likely to worsen acute malnutrition, especially in densely populated areas, where the risk of epidemics is already high.   The population classified in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) is expected to nearly triple in the coming months. Between November 2024 and April 2025, almost 2 million people, more than 90 percent of the population, are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above, of which 345,000 people (16 percent) are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), and 876,000 people (41 percent) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). Although less populated, Rafah and the northern governorates will likely face more severe acute food insecurity.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1157985/?iso3=PSE   Nigeria (Northeast and Northwest): Acute Malnutrition Situation for May - September 2024 and Projections for October - December 2024 and January - April 2025   Nearly 5.4 million children aged 0-59 months in northwest and northeast Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition and will likely continue suffering through 2025. This includes about 1.8 million cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 3.6 million cases of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). Additionally, approximately 787,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished.   In the current period of May – September 2024, over half of the 133 Local Government Areas (LGAs) assessed were classified as IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) Phase 3 (Serious) or Phase 4 (Critical). Specifically, in the northeast, 10 LGAs were in Phase 4 and 21 in Phase 3; in the northwest, there were 24 in Phase 4 and 29 in Phase 3.   Key factors driving this crisis include poor food consumption, inadequate health services, and ongoing food insecurity. The number of acutely malnourished children needing treatment has risen by 23 percent since the last analysis, with SAM cases increasing by 69 percent.   The first projection period from October to December 2024 indicates that acute malnutrition levels in both the northeast and northwest regions are expected to remain largely stable compared to the current period. However, Northern Yobe is likely to see a deterioration in its situation. During the second projection period from January to April 2025, conditions in the northeast are anticipated to remain similar, with the exception of Mobbar and Nganzai in Northern Borno, where a decline is expected.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159140/?iso3=NGA   Yemen: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for July - September 2024 and Projection for October 2024 – February 2025 (partial analysis)   Nearly half of the population (4.7 million people) in the Government of Yemen (GoY) controlled areas experienced high levels of acute food between July and September 2024, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). This included 1.2 million people who experienced critical levels of food insecurity – IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) – characterized by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition. This reflects a continued, though slower, deterioration in the food security situation compared to the last IPC update (October 2023 – February 2024), when around 4.6 million people were classified in Phase 3 or above.   The declining economy, coupled with continued conflict and irregular humanitarian food assistance (HFA) continue to drive the high levels of acute food insecurity. In addition, torrential rains in August 2024 led to localized flooding that devasted homes, disrupted agricultural activities, resulted in loss of livestock and farmland and displaced an estimated 400,000 people – mainly in parts of Marib, Al Hodeidah, Taiz and Ad Dhali.   In the projection period (October 2024 – February 2025), the situation will improve marginally with 4.6 million people projected to be in Phase 3 or above. Of these, 1.1 million people are expected to face critical levels of food insecurity (Phase 4), and 3.5 million people are expected to face crisis levels of food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).   While the number of districts classified in Phase 4 is estimated to decline by 50 percent, from 24 to 12 districts, the population in Phase 4 will remain unchanged. Overall, all 118 districts analysed will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 3 or above) during both the current and projection periods.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1157981/?iso3=YEM   * The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a multi-partner platform involving Governments, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society and other relevant actors, who work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally-recognised scientific standards.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/en/ Visit the related web page
	Conflict’s long shadow has a Name: It’s Hunger by FAO HLPE-FSN, Action Against Hunger, agencies   July 2024   “Conflict-induced acute food crises: potential policy responses in light of current emergencies”, new issues paper of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN)   Today, we face the tragic consequences of multiple conflict-induced starvation and acute food insecurity crises. Almost 282 million people in 59 countries experience high levels of acute food insecurity that threaten their lives and livelihoods, thus requiring emergency action as a matter of life and death.   These crises are due to interlinked and superimposed structural vulnerabilities such as state fragility and pre-existing tensions often associated with conflicts, extreme weather, climate change, and economic shocks.   Conflict-related disruptions to supply chains for cereals and agricultural inputs (such as those originating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict) are having adverse impacts around the world and especially on food-insecure countries in Africa, the Near East and Asia.   Food crises escalated alarmingly in 2023, as nearly 24 million more people faced high levels of acute food insecurity compared to the previous year. This includes 20 countries where 135 million people are in a food crisis because of war and protracted conflicts including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, Gaza and Sudan, the last two of which the new HLPE-FSN Issues paper focuses on.   It is essential to reaffirm that it is first and foremost for states and parties to the conflict to uphold their responsibilities under the applicable legal frameworks for ensuring the right to food in contexts of acute food insecurity.   Humanitarian aid plays a critical role in filling gaps in situations where states themselves are unable or unwilling to meet the basic needs of their populations. In many of today’s conflicts, the humanitarian system is in essence asked to take over basic functions from states and parties to the conflict.   The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has a mandate and a responsibility to identify critical, emerging and enduring issues and assist the CFS and its Members to prioritize policies and actions so that it may provide immediate responses when necessary, based on existing scientific evidence on the short-, medium- and long-term consequences of conflict on food security and nutrition.   The purpose of this brief is to explore how the international community can respond effectively to conflict-induced acute food crises by providing a series of action-oriented policy recommendations. In this regard, the HLPE-FSN urges institutional cooperation, and – most importantly – encourages political cooperation in response to conflict-induced acute food crises, wherever such crises might occur.   The HLPE-FSN brief analyses the current conflicts in Gaza and Sudan and their impact on acute food insecurity, as well as the risks of starvation and famine. Even though the special circumstances in these two places are very different, the adverse impacts of conflict on food systems and human health are very similar.   It also reflects upon how international law, human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law contain norms that apply to protect people in conflict against severe violations of the right to adequate food.   By analyzing these legal provisions, the paper underscores the imperative of safeguarding food security amidst the turmoil of conflict, ensuring that the fundamental human right to adequate food is upheld even in the most challenging circumstances.   The international community needs to promote the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to prevent conflict-related hunger crises while building long-term sustainable and equitable food systems.   http://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/insights/news-insights/news-detail/new-issues-paper--conflict-induced-acute-food-crises--potential-policy-responses-in-light-of-current-emergencies/en http://www.fightfoodcrises.net/hunger-hotspots http://www.fsinplatform.org/global-report-food-crises-2024-mid-year-update   http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/famine-takes-grip-africas-prolonged-conflict-zones http://www.internal-displacement.org/news/internal-displacement-in-africa-triples-in-15-years-since-landmark-treaty-to-address-it/ http://www.internal-displacement.org/regional-reports/internal-displacement-in-africa/ http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/climate-change-and-mass-atrocities/   Apr. 2024   Conflict’s long shadow has a Name: It’s Hunger, writes Dr. Charles E. Owubah. (Action Against Hunger)   Scarce food and drinking water. Limited and inconsistent healthcare. Rapidly deteriorating mental health. With conflict on the rise globally, this is the grim reality for millions around the world.   April 7th will mark the sixth-month anniversary of the attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, which has killed over 30,000 people. It has left millions without shelter, medicine, food or clean water. Without intervention, 50% of Gaza’s population is at imminent risk of famine.   While this tragedy understandably dominates global headlines, there are countless hostilities that don’t make the news. Many bear grim similarities to Gaza, but the striking difference is that other places are seemingly invisible, their people left to suffer in conflict’s dark shadow as hunger and an ever-rising death toll becomes the norm.   Though the ups and downs of fighting can be unpredictable, the link between conflict and hunger is not. Over 85% of people experiencing hunger crises worldwide live in conflict-affected countries.   Hunger can be both a trigger and a consequence of conflict; limited resources can drive disputes for food and the means to produce it, and conflict can disrupt harvests and force families from their homes.   Climate change makes it even harder for people to cope, since heatwaves, droughts and floods further lower crop yields and access to support.   Gender-based violence also increases during conflict. This can include sexual based violence, forced or early marriage, and intimate partner violence. Violence against women and girls is sometimes even used as a weapon of war.   For vulnerable populations trapped in forgotten crises, humanitarian aid–or the lack of it–can mean the difference between life and death.   In Eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for example, rampant violence has left nearly 7 million Congolese internally displaced, making it the second-largest crisis of this kind anywhere in the world. Hundreds of thousands are hungry and need immediate humanitarian assistance.   Since January’s upsurge in conflict, Action Against Hunger health facilities in the region have admitted four times the number of severely malnourished children under five years old.   Outside the city of Goma and across North Kivu province, where there are almost 2.4 million displaced people, violence has stopped families from returning to their homes for weeks or months at a time, leaving them largely unable to grow food and few resources to buy it.   The fighting has involved indiscriminate targeting of civilians and infrastructure, militarization of camps for internally displaced people, and blockades on key supply routes.   Many families struggle to find basic necessities, let alone afford them. Humanitarian organizations can’t deliver much-needed assistance. People are increasingly destitute and desperate.   Similarly, in Sudan, a year of conflict has left almost 18 million people – one third of the country’s population – acutely food insecure. The conflict is primarily focused around the capital of Khartoum, with a devastating effect on the whole country. Around 10% of the population is on the brink of famine.   With key trade routes compromised, shortages of food, fuel, medicines and other basic supplies means prices are soaring, and the limited goods are out of reach of most families. A large-scale cholera outbreak is causing the situation to deteriorate further.   The disease leads to diarrhea and worsens malnutrition. It is so contagious even one case must be treated as an epidemic; Sudan has seen more than 10,000 cases, and counting. Cholera can kill within hours if not treated, but medical help is in short supply.   Violence prevents humanitarian workers from accessing hard-hit communities, leaving many without access to food, healthcare and basic necessities.   As a result, millions have fled their homes in search of food and safety. Nearly 11 million people are displaced, whether internally, in neighboring nations or scattered around the world. It is also the world’s largest child displacement crisis, impacting four million children. Some are with family, some entirely on their own.   In Yemen, nine years of war has destroyed huge swaths of the country’s infrastructure and left 17.6 million people, more than half the population, dependent on food aid. Every day, Yemeni families struggle to secure basics like food, clean water, and staples like cooking fuel, soap and other household supplies.   After the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war, hostilities around the Red Sea and the recent U.S. designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization are combining to pose new challenges in an already complex region.   The U.S. designation effectively criminalized key transactions necessary for the imports Yemen relies on for 85% of its food, fuel supplies, and almost all medical supplies.   The stress of living under constant pressure to meet their most basic needs, and an estimated 377,000 conflict-related deaths, has meant Yemen also faces a severe mental health crisis.   More than a quarter of Yemenis—over eight million people—suffer from mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. According to surveys by Action Against Hunger and other data, the continuing conflict, forced displacement, deteriorating economic situation, poverty, and food shortages are exacerbating the prevalence of mental health challenges.   Despite the rising death tolls, unimaginable suffering and ongoing violence, these conflicts are largely forgotten. So are countless others. Funding for hunger-related aid is woefully insufficient.   In 2023, only 35% of appeals from countries dealing with crisis levels of hunger were satisfied, according to the Action Against Hunger 2023 Hunger Funding Gap Report.   Ignoring these crises means a terrible cost, both to the people impacted and also to ourselves. Today, the world is so small and interconnected that massive instability anywhere has ripples everywhere.   Of course, the ideal solution is peace. Until then, we need the international community to advocate for safe humanitarian access in conflict zones. We also need greater funding for the most basic of human rights, such as food and access to healthcare. Bringing attention to these forgotten crises is the first step toward both.   That is why we continue to call on the international community and major donors to prioritize the world’s most vulnerable and to dramatically increase funding, especially through investment in locally-led NGOs that focus on gender in their programming.   While emergency aid is essential, we also need funding for long term approaches that build resilience, helping at-risk populations create their own path to a more secure future.   http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/story/conflicts-long-shadow-has-a-name-its-hunger http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/global-hunger-funding-gap-hit-65-percent-for-neediest-countries/ http://www.fsinplatform.org/report/global-report-food-crises-2024/ http://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-global-operational-response-plan http://www.wfp.org/stories/2023-pictures-ration-cuts-threaten-catastrophe-millions-facing-hunger http://www.wfp.org/stories/one-year-sudans-war-its-people-yearn-peace-amid-soaring-hunger http://www.wfp.org/stories/haitians-deserve-better-wfp-calls-funds-and-resources-gang-violence-fuels-hunger http://www.wfp.org/stories/hunger-gaza-famine-findings-dark-mark-world-says-wfp-palestine-country-director http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/en/ http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/resources/alerts-archive/en/ http://humanitarianaction.info/document/global-humanitarian-overview-2024/article/worsening-hunger-crisis-requires-global-response-across-all-sectors Visit the related web page
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