Berlin (dpa) – More than 5 million people living in the western Sahel region are threatened with famine, Germany Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Berlin on Wednesday, backing up concerns expressed earlier by the World Food Programme (WFP).
“Food supplies will presumably be further impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Maas said.
He noted that the dangers posed by the disease were greater for malnourished people.
The UN’s WFP recently highlighted a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
The region, which is in the throes of attacks by Islamist terrorists has one of the world’s weakest health systems.
Maas said Germany had provided 10 million euros (11 million dollars) this year to the WFP’s work in the region.
Germany is also providing assistance to UNHAS, the UN’s humanitarian air service to reach those in need in inaccessible areas.
The WFP estimates its urgent requirement up to August at 208 million dollars.
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