The United Nations warns of famine threatening millions in 12 regions around the world

Two United Nations organizations warned on Wednesday that millions more people in at least 12 crisis areas around the world, including Sudan and Gaza, face the risk of famine, and issued appeals for funds to fill the shortfall in light of the decline in aid globally.

In a joint report, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) listed Haiti, Mali, South Sudan and Yemen among countries facing “the imminent risk of catastrophic hunger,” that is, famine.

The report stated that the hunger situation in six other countries – Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria – is considered “extremely worrying.”

Against this background, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization said that the lack of funding for humanitarian aid “weakes the ability to deal with emergency crises, imposes significant cuts in rations, and reduces access to food for the most vulnerable groups, with food aid to refugees reaching a breaking point.”

The World Food Program and FAO called for more assistance from governments and other donors, and said that as of the end of October, only $10.5 billion had been received out of the $29 billion required to help the most vulnerable groups.

“Preventing famine is not just a moral duty, but a smart investment in long-term peace and stability,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. “Peace is a prerequisite for achieving food security and the right to food is a basic human right.”