January 17, 2026 UN News Service DAKAR, Senegal -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that without urgent resources and action, the most vulnerable people in West and Central Africa are headed for yet another dire year. A staggering 55 million people in the region are expected to endure crisis levels of hunger, or worse, during the June-August 2026 lean season. Over 13 million children are also expected to suffer from malnutrition in 2026. © WFP/Arete/Damilol