ALBAWABA – In a joint statement, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have sounded a dire warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Mali.
The statement highlights the critical situation unfolding in the country, where ongoing conflicts, displacement, and limited humanitarian access have placed nearly one million children under the age of five at risk of acute malnutrition by the close of 2023.
Mali, a nation in West Africa, is grappling with a severe food insecurity crisis, with nearly 25% of its population facing uncertainty about their next meal. The dire circumstances are particularly pronounced in the Menaka region, where approximately 2,500 individuals, including many children, are facing the imminent threat of hunger.
The UN statement underscores the urgent need for swift action to address this worsening humanitarian crisis. It emphasizes that in times of global challenges, there should be no debate over who receives aid; instead, the focus should be on providing assistance where it is needed most.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the statement reveals that international aid contributions to Mali remain significantly below the required levels. It warns that if essential aid does not reach Mali promptly, up to 200,000 children could succumb to starvation by the conclusion of 2023, underlining the critical need for immediate intervention to prevent this tragedy.
