It projects that 13 million children are also expected to suffer from malnutrition this year, while more than three million people will face emergency levels of food insecurity. more than double the 1.5 million in 2020.
Communities cannot cope
Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger account for 77 percent of the food insecurity figures.including 15,000 people in Borno State, Nigeria, at risk of catastrophic famine for the first time in almost a decade.
Although a combination of conflict, displacement and economic upheaval has been causing hunger in West and Central Africa, cuts to humanitarian funding are now pushing communities beyond their ability to cope.
“The reduction in funding we saw in 2025 has worsened hunger and malnutrition across the region,” said Sarah Longford, WFP Deputy Regional Director.
“As needs outpace funding, the risk of young people falling into despair also increases.”
Rations are reduced, hunger is skyrocketing
WFP urgently needs more than $453 million over the next six months continue its humanitarian assistance throughout the region, where the impacts of aid budget cuts are evident.
In MaliWhen families received reduced food rations, areas experienced an increase in acute hunger of nearly 65 percent (CPI 3+) from 2023, compared to a 34 percent decrease in communities that received full rations.
Continued insecurity has disrupted critical supply lines to major cities – including for food – and 1.5 million of the country’s most vulnerable people are on track to face critical levels of hunger.
Malnutrition levels deteriorate
In NigeriaFunding shortages last year forced WFP to reduce nutrition programs, affecting more than 300,000 children. Since then, malnutrition levels in several northern states have deteriorated from “severe” to “critical.”
The UN agency will only be able to reach 72,000 people in Nigeria in February, down from 1.3 million assisted during the 2025 lean season.
Meanwhile, more than half a million vulnerable people in Cameroon They risk being left without help in the coming weeks.
A ‘paradigm shift’ is needed
WFP stressed the importance of adequate funding for its operations, which have helped improve food security in the region.
For example, teams have worked with local communities in five countries to rehabilitate 300,000 hectares of agricultural land to support more than four million people in more than 3,400 villages.
WFP programs have also supported infrastructure development, school meals, nutrition, capacity building and seasonal aid to help families manage extreme climate and security risks, stabilize local economies and reduce aid dependency.
“To break the cycle of hunger for future generations, we need a paradigm shift by 2026”Ms Longford said.
He urged governments and their partners to increase investment in preparedness, anticipatory action and building resilience to empower local communities.