The UN issued a warning on Tuesday that there could be a significant increase in hunger in West and Central Africa in the upcoming year, largely due to ongoing conflicts in the area.

According to representatives from the U.N., the Food and Agriculture Organization, and other organizations, approximately 50 million individuals may experience food insecurity and over 2.5 million are at risk of starvation. These findings were shared during a presentation in Dakar, Senegal.

The report is created by local governments, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations. Although climate change and rising prices play a role, the primary cause of food insecurity is the growing levels of violence, especially in the Central Sahel region – a large area below the Sahara Desert that has been significantly impacted.

In the past three years, there have been five instances of a sudden and illegal seizure of power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This has resulted in a rise in violent attacks by jihadi groups associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. These militants were already active in the region and have taken advantage of the chaotic political situation to gain control of large territories and restrict access to cities.

According to FAO regional expert Martin Naindouba Djerandodje, the primary concern this year is the risk of insecurity. He warned that if those impacted do not receive assistance, there is a potential for loss of life and a worsening of the situation.

The area where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger meet is at the center of a growing humanitarian crisis in West Africa. This crisis is worsened by the impacts of climate change, including extreme floods and droughts. The United Nations is providing aid to over 10 million people in this region.

Following the military coup in Niger in July, there has been a surge in jihadi attacks. Additionally, economic, commercial, and financial sanctions imposed by the West African regional organization have hindered the delivery of aid to the country.

According to aid workers, the presence of Russian military contractor Wagner and Tuareg fighters has led to conflict in northern Mali. This, combined with the withdrawal of the U.N. peacekeeping mission after ten years, has created challenges for delivering aid to certain cities.

In Burkina Faso, a large number of locations are facing attacks, according to aid workers. They estimate that about 1 million individuals reside in regions that are difficult to access. On Tuesday, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network reported that the suspension of humanitarian cargo flights in October has put hundreds of thousands of people in the northern city of Djibo in danger of famine. As a result, less than 1% of the community has received food aid since then.

Despite the presence of food, exorbitant prices have created difficulties for individuals to make purchases.

“There is no money here. There is no business to do in Djibo to get money, food is very expensive,” Maiga, a Djibo resident who only wanted to use his family name for security reasons, told The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday.

The United Nations reports that they are unable to fulfill the increasing demands due to a lack of sufficient funds.

According to Ollo Sib of the World Food Program, 40% of individuals experiencing food insecurity this year did not receive assistance. Among those who did, the amount given was less than 50% of the total rations.

On Monday, the United Nations initiated a request for $7.6 billion to aid over 32 million individuals in West and Central Africa who are facing severe hardships. Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s leader of humanitarian efforts, cautioned that assistance from the global community is not meeting the demands.

He stated that if we are unable to offer further assistance by 2024, individuals will suffer fatal consequences.