WFP - FAO Food security in West and Central Africa
/
3:05
/
MP4
/
227.9 MB

Edited News | WFP , FAO

WFP - FAO Food security in West and Central Africa

Some 36 million people are expected to be food insecure in 2022 in West and Central Africa between June and August 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned today. This is a 24 percent increase compared to 2020.

At a news briefing today at the United Nations in Geneva, Ollo Sib, Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region (WFP) said that “we are talking about 36 million people in West Africa and Cameron included who will need humanitarian assistance during the up-coming lean season. And if we add Central Africa, we are talking about 38 million people.”

Food insecurity is expanding in the region, the number of people in emergency keeps increasing.

According to WFP’s Ollo Sib “people are worried mainly for 3 reasons in this region: we see food insecurity expanded in the region and the raining season was not good at all, the harvest is bad in many locations, in many areas. There is not enough water and pasture for livestock.”

People are also worried about the high cost of food, in general 30-40 percent higher compared to the rest of the world as Mr. Sib witnessed from a recent trip to the Lake Chad region.

“I was talking to pastoralists a few months ago and they used to sell cattle to buy cereals, mainly millet, and this year with one cattle they managed to get maximum five bags of cereals. Last year, same time, same period, they were able to get seven bags of cereals.”

The persistence of insecurity, the institutional fragilities and the multiplication of inter-communal conflicts followed by displacement are hindering planting and harvesting.

“In the costal countries Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, people see the activities of armed groups coming towards them and people are worried”, said WFP’s Ollo Sib.

In addition to all these factors, people still have to deal with the long-term effects of Covid-19.

For Amadou Diop, Regional Food Security Advisor for Sahel and West Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) stressed the gravity of the situation. He said that “the difficulties are very high: More than 70 million people are in such a situation in the region. Unfortunately, the situation is expected to significantly deteriorate during the next lean season between June and August 2022 and the population and the number of people which will experience a critical food insecurity situation would really reach 35.8 million people in the whole region. This is a figure we never reached before in that region. So that means that the situation is extremely critical.”

Given the current situation, anticipatory planning and early actions are required.

“The pastoral lean season is expected to be starting in three months. So, we need at the same time as early as 2022 to adequately invest in the preparation for the next agricultural season. And therefore, we believe that investing in people’s livelihoods is the key to prevent for the insecurity from worsening”, stressed Ollo Sib. “Climate and the conflict remain two major drivers of the poor harvest and poor production we are experiencing in the Sahel.”

-ends –

  1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flags flying.
  2. Medium shot, inside the press conference room (B-128), showing speakers and participants.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English): Ollo Sib, Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region (WFP): “We are talking about 36 million people in West Africa and Cameron included, who will need humanitarian assistance during the up-coming lean season. And if we add Central Africa, we are talking about 38 million people.”
  4. Close shot, participants, masked and seated, taking notes of the briefing, a large TV-screen showing the speakers in the background.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English): Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region, Ollo Sib (WFP): “People are worried mainly for 3 reasons in this region: we see food insecurity expanded in the region and the raining season was not good at all, the harvest is bad in many locations, in many areas. There is not enough water and pasture for livestock.”
  6. Close shot, journalists taking notes.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English): Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region, Ollo Sib (WFP): “I was talking to pastoralists a few months ago and they used to sell cattle to buy cereals, mainly millet, and this year with one cattle they managed to get maximum five bags of cereals. Last year, same time, same period, they were able to get seven bags of cereals.”
  8. Medium shot, participants attending the press meeting.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English): Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region, Ollo Sib (WFP): “In the costal countries Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, people see the activities of armed groups coming towards them and people are worried.”
  10. Medium shot, a technician supervising the briefing on Zoom, while Mr. Sib is delivering his speech.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English): Amadou Diop, Regional Food Security Advisor for Sahel and West Africa (FAO): “The difficulties are very high. More than 70 million people are in such a situation in the region. Unfortunately, the situation is expected to significantly deteriorate during the next lean season between June and August 2022 and the population and the number of people which will experience a critical food insecurity situation would really reach 35.8 million people in the whole region. This is a figure we never reached before in that region. So that means that the situation is extremely critical.”
  12. Close shot, a journalist taking notes.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English): Amadou Diop, Regional Food Security Advisor for Sahel and West Africa (FAO): “The pastoral lean season is expected to be starting in three months. So, we need at the same time as early as 2022 to adequately invest in the preparation for the next agricultural season. And therefore, we believe that investing in people’s livelihoods is the key to prevent for the insecurity from worsening.”
  14. Close shot of a participant and a technician.
  15. SOUNDBITE (English): Senior Research, Assessment and Monitoring Officer for West and Central Africa Region, Ollo Sib: “Climate and the conflict remain two major drivers of the poor harvest and poor production we are experiencing in the Sahel.”
  16. Medium shot, speakers seated and masked listening to the briefing.
  17. Close shot, journalists taking notes.

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan ENG FRA

The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).  

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment. 

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA

1

1

1

Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA ENG FRA

‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives

Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials

Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OCHA

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025 ENG FRA

UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025 ENG FRA

Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach  desperate Palestinians.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office ENG FRA

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025 ENG FRA

As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.