More than 20 million people across four countries face starvation and famine

March 13 | yamanyoon

The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the UN was founded in 1945, with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the UN humanitarian chief has said.

Stephen O’Brien told the UN Security Council that “without collective and coordinated global efforts, people will simply starve to death” and “many more will suffer and die from disease.”

He urged an immediate injection of funds for Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeast Nigeria, plus safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid “to avert a catastrophe.”

“To be precise,” O’Brien said, “we need $4.4 billion (£3.6bn) by July.”

UN and food organisations define famine as when more than 30 per cent of children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, and mortality rates are two or more deaths per 10,000 people every day, among other criteria.

For 2017, O’Brien said $2.1 billion (£1.7bn) is needed to reach 12 million Yemenis “with life-saving assistance and protection” but only 6 per cent has been received so far. He announced that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will chair a pledging conference for Yemen on 25 April in Geneva.

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