UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The number of hungry people in Central and West Africa is expected to increase to a record 49.5 million people around mid-2024, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday, citing a UN analysis.

The record number would be reached between June and August, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, quoting the World Food Programme, the UN Children's Agency, and the Food and Agriculture Organization as reporting in their regional food security analysis.

Dujarric said the three agencies call on national governments and financial partners to prioritize programs that strengthen climate-resilient food systems and livelihoods and invest in social protection systems.

"They also recommended the timely development and implementation of emergency programs that address immediate food and nutritional needs of populations experiencing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity," the spokesman said.

The analysis showed the hunger trend is particularly worrying in coastal countries, where the number of women, men, and children facing acute hunger is expected to reach 6.2 million, a 16 percent increase over this year, the three agencies reported.

Acute hunger in the region is mainly driven by conflict, the impact of the climate crisis, as well as high food and fuel prices, said the agencies. Enditem

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