The crisis is being exacerbated by the expected early arrival of the lean season – the period between harvests when hunger peaks. Chronic hunger is being driven by conflict, displacement, economic instability and severe climate shocks, WFP said, with devastating floods in 2024 affecting over six million people across West Africa.

Funding shortfalls will force the agency to suspend food assistance for two million crisis-affected people, including Sudanese refugees in Chad, Malian refugees in Mauritania, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable food-insecure families in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

“With millions expected to face emergency levels of hunger at the peak of the lean season, the world must step up support to prevent this situation from getting out of control,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Regional Director for Western Africa.

The UN food agency urgently requires $620 million to ensure continued support to crisis-affected people across the Sahel and in Nigeria over the next six months.

Acute food insecurity

An estimated 52.7 million women, men and children are projected to experience acute hunger between June and August 2025, according to the latest projected regional food security analysis.

Despite the ever-increasing needs in West and Central Africa, the proportion of the population facing extreme hunger is projected to increase by over 20 per cent by June 2025.

An underfunded region

Needs are chronically underfunded. As a result, WFP underscores that it is being forced to regularly make the difficult decision to cut rations, effectively taking from the hungry to feed the starving.

In Chad, the influx of refugees arriving from Sudan is placing enormous pressure on already limited resources, fuelling tension and competition between communities.

This is particularly concerning as the country enters its sixth consecutive year of severe food insecurity in 2025, with more than a 200 percent increase since 2020.

In neighbouring Nigeria, the prolonged humanitarian crisis, worsened by high inflation and weather-related shocks, is endangering the lives of children, pregnant women and entire communities.

During the June-August lean season, 33.1 million Nigerians are expected to face severe food shortages.

A call to action

WFP is working with national governments to assess and adapt its response to ensure urgent assistance reaches the most vulnerable, while also calling for safe and unhindered access to crisis-affected families.

“We need to act now to allow WFP to reach those in need with timely support. Inaction will have severe consequences for the region and beyond, as food security is national security,” Ms. van der Velden warned.