Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal as more than 41 million people in 43 countries are teetering on the brink of famine.

The Covid-19 pandemic, climate crisis, and continued conflict has exacerbated hunger and food insecurity in countries including South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria (in the North East) and Afghanistan.

In South Sudan, 60% of the population are struggling to get enough food to eat, and 82% are living in extreme poverty. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, six of the country’s counties are already categorised as being in IPC Phase 5 Catastrophe – which means people face starvation, death, destitution and debilitating levels of acute malnutrition – and 34 states are in the emergency acute food insecurity phase as people experience very high acute malnutrition and excess deaths. 7.2 million people are now affected during this lean season, expected to be the worst on record.

Val Brown, Community Relations and Fundraising Manager at Christian Aid Scotland, said: “These aren’t just numbers these are people, our fellow global neighbours. In a country of over 11 million people – 60 percent, over half the country – don’t have enough food to eat. The three Cs have collided – climate change, Covid-19 and conflict – and the impact is devastating.”

You can respond to the appeal at https:// www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/ emergencies/global-hunger-emergencyappeal