Millions of people globally, including in some African countries, risk dying from conflict-driven hunger, with the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change making the situation worse, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned.
More than 30 million people in zones such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, South Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan are "just one step away" from a declaration of famine.
"Without immediate action, millions of people will reach the brink of extreme hunger and death," Mr Guterres told the UN Security Council during a meeting on food and security.
In South Sudan, Mr Guterres said 60% of the population were “increasingly hungry.”
He said the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced “the world's largest food crisis last year, with nearly 21.8 million people facing acute hunger between July and December".
The UN chief also expressed concern about the situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, where the harvest season has been disrupted by insecurity and violence, and hundreds of thousands of people could be experiencing hunger.
Oxfam International Executive Director Gabriela Bucher said people in these worst areas "are not starving - they are being starved."
"In today's world, famine is human-made. And if it is caused by us, that means it must be stopped by us too," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said
Meanwhile UN agencies were appealing for $5.5bn (£3.9bn) in emergency mobilisation for those most affected by hunger, Mr Guterres said.
Latest Stories
-
Let’s embrace shared vision and propel National Banking College – First Deputy Governor
34 mins -
Liverpool agree compensation deal with Feyenoord for Slot
41 mins -
Ejisu by-election: There’s no evidence of NPP engaging in vote-buying – Ahiagbah
47 mins -
Ejisu by-election: Independent ex-NPP MP’s campaign team warns party against dubious tactics
1 hour -
ZEN Petroleum supports Tse-Addo Future Leaders School
2 hours -
NPP must win back Adentan seat in 2024 polls – Obeng Fosu
2 hours -
PPA Clarification: The dark side of the World Bank’s ‘giveaways’ in Ghana by Bright Simons
3 hours -
Blinken says China helping fuel Russian threat to Ukraine
4 hours -
MHA declares May as Purple Month for Mental Health Awareness
4 hours -
WAEC arrests former headmaster over illegal students registration
4 hours -
MeToo founder Tarana Burke defiant after Harvey Weinstein ruling
4 hours -
Be alert, insist on decent messages – Dwumfour tells media
5 hours -
Father jailed 10 years for burning daughter’s genitals with hot cutlasses
5 hours -
I aim to help Ghana produce world-class athletes – Asamoah Gyan
5 hours -
Ashanti Regional Minister alleges sabotage in electricity supply
5 hours