UN agencies warn of famine for millions, appeal for more funding

Millions more people risk famine in at least a dozen crisis spots around the world, including Sudan and Gaza, two United Nations agencies warned on Wednesday, appealing for funds to address a shortfall amid global cuts to international aid.

In a joint report, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation also listed Haiti, Mali, South Sudan and Yemen as countries facing "an imminent risk of catastrophic hunger", meaning famine.

It stated that the hunger situation in six additional countries - Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria - was considered to be of "very high concern".

All of the countries are suffering from war and conflict.

Calling for more help from governments and other donors, the WFP and FAO said that as of the end of October, only $10.5bn had been received out of the estimated $29bn needed to assist people most at risk.

The United States, the top donor to both UN agencies last year, has slashed its foreign aid under President Donald Trump, and other major nations have also made or announced cuts in development and humanitarian assistance.