16.5 million children suffer from acute malnutrition in West Africa, according to the World Bank

by time news

2023-05-08 17:02:21

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Food prices continue to rise around the world and Africa is no exception, according to a World Bank report. The financial institution published Monday, May 8 an inventory of food security in the world. It describes a particularly critical situation in West and Central Africa.

According to the latest estimates from the food crisis prevention network, cited by the World Bank, 29.5 million people need emergency food aid.

The financial institution considers the situation particularly worrying in the Sahel, especially for children under five. Nearly 16.5 million suffer from acute malnutrition in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

In question, violence and insecurity, climate change and high inflation.

Second observation made by the World Bank: food security is decreasing in the north of Togo and Benin, an area where security is now more threatened.

Prices of the main cereals 25% to 40% higher than the last five years

And the phenomenon affects the entire continent. In west Africa, the prices of the main basic cereals are, again according to the World Bank, 25% to 40% higher than the average for the past five years. Food prices are also rising in Southern Africa, particularly in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.

This inflation, the World Bank explains it by the general increase in the prices of basic products in the world and in the prices of fuel which increases the cost of transporting food products.

Coastal countries are also affected. Households are finding it increasingly difficult to access enough nutritious food. The financial institution points to persistent trade obstacles, high transport costs, the repercussions of the war in Ukraine and the depreciation of the currency.

► To read also: Acceleration of inflation: “We are going to have a real problem of food security”

Finally, other aggravating factors mentioned by the financial institution: the continuation of the conflict in the DRC, which will increase the number of refugees. The conflict in Sudan is also mentioned in the country, humanitarian aid is limited. Food insecurity is also expected to worsen.

And as far as North Africa is concerned, Tunisia bears the brunt of the consequences of the current drought. According to the World Bank, the country received only 44% of its average rainfall. The Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture estimates that cereal production will be reduced by 500,000 tonnes compared to last year.

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