Results from the regional analysis (Cadre Harmonisé) of the food security situation in west and central Africa show an alarming deterioration of food security in the 9 Sahel countries for the 2020 lean season.

A combination of conflict, insecurity, forced displacement, implementation of state of emergency measures and climatic shocks will leave an estimated 14.9 million people in need of emergency food assistance (phase 3 to 5) in the Sahel region, between June and August 2020. This translates to a continuous and sharp increase in food insecurity in the last five years across the Sahel.

In Northern Nigeria, at least 6.2 million people will require emergency food assistance, while part of the estimated 1.2 million people living in hard-to-reach areas may be at risk of famine.

Compared to the 2019 lean season, 2020 food insecurity figures will increase by +100% in Mali and Burkina Faso, +74% in Chad and by +65% in Niger (+80% increase for the G5 countries combined). Mauritania is facing its fourth consecutive drought, meaning that 13.5% of the population will need emergency food assistance in 2020.