United Nations – The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that famine is already present in four countries but millions of people are at risk, underscoring the need for urgent funding and humanitarian access to reach those in need.

Recent analysis by the UN agency reveals 41 million people in 43 countries “are on the very edge of famine”, up from 27 million two years ago.

WFP said 584,000 people are already experiencing famine-like conditions in Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan and Yemen.

Nigeria and Burkina Faso are also of particular concern as they have pockets where famine-like conditions are present.

Hunger has risen due to conflict, climate change and economic shocks, WFP said. However, soaring prices for basic foods have also compounded the situation, with the global cost of maize rising almost 90 per cent year-on-year, for example.

In many countries, currency depreciation is also a factor, the agency added. This has driven prices even higher, stoking food insecurity in places such as Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.