spot_img
spot_imgspot_img
October 4, 2025 - 4:37 PM

Madagascar: ‘World cannot look away’ as 1.3 million face severe hunger

The international community must step up support to Madagascar, where more than one million people in the south are facing severe hunger, the top UN aid official there said on Thursday in a renewed appeal for solidarity and funding. 

NEW YORK, USA, November 19, 2021,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-The impacts of the most acute drought in over 40 years, combined with sandstorms and pests, have made it nearly impossible for people in the Grand Sud to grow their own food for at least three years now. 

“The world cannot look away. People in Madagascar need our support now, and into the future,” said Issa Sanogo, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. 

Funding needed now 

The World Food Programme (WFP) recently warned that the situation in southern Madagascar could become the first-ever famine caused by climate change. 

The UN and partners are seeking $231 million to cover operations through May 2022.   

Although nearly $120 million has been received so far, the UN humantarian affairs office, OCHA, said more funding is urgently needed to provide food, water, health services and life-saving nutrition treatment in the months ahead. 

Mr. Sanogo recently visited the Grand Sud where he saw “the human face of the global climate crisis.”  

Eating cactus and locusts 

The drought has left more than 1.3 million people facing severe hunger, including some 30,000 people who are facing life-threatening famine-like conditions. 

“Women, children and families are eating cactus or locusts to survive this drought and more than half a million children are acutely malnourished,” he said. “This is happening in a country and a region that has contributed the least to climate change.” 

The crisis has forced families to take their children out of school so they can help with tasks such as finding food and water.   

Gender-based violence and child abuse have risen, and people have been displaced from rural areas to urban centres in search of sustenance and services. 

Prevent catastrophe, promote resilience 

“I have met families that told me they had to sell all of their personal belongings, right up to their pots and pans, to buy small amounts of food that will not keep them going for long,” said Mr. Sanogo. “It is imperative that the world acts now to help these families.” 

Humanitarian organizations have significantly expanded their operations in Madagascar this year, reaching over 900,000 people with life-saving assistance, in tandem with Government efforts.  

However, with the peak of the lean season, which runs from January to April, fast approaching, Mr. Sanogo underlined the critical need to scale up response now. 

“I call on the international community to show solidarity with the communities in the Grand Sud, who are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, and to put forward the funding that is needed to both prevent a humanitarian catastrophe today, and enable people to become more resilient tomorrow.”

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN News. 

The post Madagascar: ‘World cannot look away’ as 1.3 million face severe hunger appeared first on African Media Agency.

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Share post:

Subscribe

Latest News

More like this
Related

Governor Sule Rewards Scholarship Board Secretary for Returning ₦122m Excess Bursary Funds

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has rewarded the...

First Lady Launches “Flow with Confidence” Menstrual Health Campaign to Keep Girls in School

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON,...

Nigerian Navy Commissions Classroom Block at Nigerian Military School, Zaria

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral...

Kaduna Government Honours 23 Outstanding Teachers with Awards, Cash Prizes

The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board has honoured...
Join us on
For more updates, columns, opinions, etc.
WhatsApp
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x