Addressing the UN Security Council, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the dire situation, stating: "War, economic turmoil, and increasingly, climate change and environmental degradation are driving millions of people into poverty and despair each year. Up to 783 million people do not know when, or if, they will eat again."

The crisis is hitting the youngest members of affected populations particularly hard, with McCain noting: "The number of children caught in the grip of starvation is overwhelming: a staggering 45 million under 5 years old are now estimated to have acute malnutrition."

McCain expressed deep concern over the impact of humanitarian funding cuts by governments, revealing that these reductions are forcing the UN agency to make agonizing decisions, including cutting food rations for millions of vulnerable individuals. She warned that more cuts are forthcoming, stating that this is the "humanitarian community's new reality" and "our new normal."

Calling for urgent action, McCain implored the UN Security Council to leverage its powers and influence to create broader conditions that would facilitate public-private partnerships to address this crisis effectively. She also appealed to the private sector, urging businesses to embrace their responsibility in helping to build societies that enable their enterprises to thrive.

The World Food Program's latest assessment serves as a somber reminder of the pressing need for immediate and coordinated international efforts to combat the escalating threat of famine around the world. (ILKHA)