The World Food Progamme (WFP) says the global hunger crisis caused by conflict and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic is moving into a “new and dangerous phase” in nations ravaged by armed conflict.

In South Sudan, the WFP says the outlook is worrying. Before the pandemic, a projected number of 6.5 million people were on the brink of starvation due natural occurrences like floods, that negatively impacted agriculture in many parts of the country.

In an address to the United Nations Security Council on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, WFP Executive Director David Beasely said the situation has been made worse by the inter-communal violence in recent months.

This, Beasely said, has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, with a huge number of abducted women and children, and widespread loss of livestock and livelihoods, placing additional 1.6 million people at risk of looming starvation.

South Sudan is joined by four other conflict-affected countries, that are on the vast of starvation according to the report by the WFP Chief.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso are nations where the global hunger crisis caused by conflict and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic is moving into a new and dangerous phase.

“The threat of famine is looming again, so we have to step up, not step back. Quite frankly, 2021 will be a make-break year,” Beasely told the United Nations Security Council last week.

Despite 2020 being a record year that saw the WFP hitting $8 billion in financial budget, demands brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the expenditure of the budget.

“Financially, 2020 was a record year for WFP. We hit $8 billion for the first time ever – but our budget was set before the pandemic hit. Economies were strong. Reserve/emergency funds were available.

“But now, I am truly worried about what will happen next year. I know your governments are spending billions on domestic stimulus packages. National budgets are tight, and reserves are running low if not out. And, economies are shrinking,” he said.

The Director called for an urgent action from the United Nations to avert the looming humanitarian catastrophe.

“I urge you – don’t walk away from our commitment to humanitarian assistance. Don’t turn your backs on the world’s hungriest people. It is critically important we balance sensible measures to contain the spread of the virus, with the need to keep borders open and supply chains going and trade flows moving.”

Beasely urged the world to be vigilant and guard against unintended consequences, which could hit the poorest people the hardest.

“In fact, in the 80-odd countries that we’re in, we’re working with the presidents, the prime ministers, the ministers of government, literally on an hourly basis, dealing with issues that are popping up because of quarantines and lockdowns, distribution points. We’re all learning from this and making headway.

“There is a grave danger that many more people will die from the broader economic and social consequences of COVID-19 than from the virus itself, especially in Africa. And the last thing we need is to have the cure be worse than the disease itself.

“Your continued support for humanitarian programmes is critical right now. It’s a matter of life and death – literally. For millions of people in the countries being discussed today. And for many millions more in the other countries edging closer to the brink of starvation. We know that, already, there are 30 million people who rely solely on WFP for their survival. That’s the only food they get. If they don’t get the food we provide, they die,” Beasely said.