In several countries of Central and West Africa, about 55 million people will face the threat of famine this year.
As Ukrinform reports, Reuters reports this with reference to the statement of several UN agencies.
"Rising prices have contributed to the food crisis in West and Central Africa, where about 55 million people will have problems feeding themselves in the coming months," the article says.
The number of Africans facing hunger during the dry summer season has quadrupled over the past five years, it said. In addition to ongoing armed conflicts in the region, economic factors such as high inflation and low local production contribute to this.
"The most affected countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Mali, in the north of which about 2,600 people are likely to face a catastrophic famine," - says Reuters.
Due to food shortages, 16.7 million children under the age of 5 in West and Central Africa suffer from acute malnutrition.
The situation is also worsened by the region's heavy dependence on food imports, especially in Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which are struggling with high inflation.
The UN has called for local production and diversification to help tackle the food crisis.
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