UN warns of deepening humanitarian crisis in Madagascar

Madagascar is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, mainly in the regions of Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est, which have been hit by a series of droughts, cyclones and other shocks this year and last, a UN spokesperson said Tuesday.



The lingering impact of the recent El Nino drought and cyclone season, combined with a malaria outbreak and strained health systems, has left many communities in the country with little ability to recover, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a daily briefing, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.



"As a result, Madagascar's hunger crisis is intensifying," said the spokesperson, adding that the number of people facing emergency food insecurity in the Grand Sud region is expected to quadruple to 110,000 by January 2026.



In addition, cases of severe acute malnutrition in the Grand Sud have surged in the past year, affecting nearly 160,000 children, he said.