More than five million people in Africa's conflict-ravaged Sahel region are facing hunger, the World Food Programme said on Thursday, just as the coronavirus spreads into affected countries.
The agency called the situation in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger "extremely worrying," and warned that the humanitarian crisis was "spiralling out of control".
The three countries are among the poorest in the world and are struggling to stop insurgencies that have killed thousands of people.
There are fears that their fragile healthcare systems and conflict put them at particular risk of coronavirus outbreaks.
"Our message to the world is clear – look away now and the consequences will be no less than catastrophic," said Chris Nikoi, the agency's director for West Africa.
The WFP said food insecurity Burkina Faso was particularly severe.
About 2.1 million people will face food insecurity in the West African state by June, it said, up from over 680,000 at the same time last year.
Burkina Faso has recorded 288 confirmed coronavirus cases, 16 of which have been fatal, a tracker compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows.
Across its borders, about 1.3 million people are facing hunger in Mali and 2 million in Niger.
The agency said it needed $208 million (Dh764m) until August to continue food aid, with the number of people driven from their homes by conflict growing.
It warned that displaced people "now rely almost entirely on external assistance to survive".
Mali has so far confirmed 31 coronavirus cases, while Niger has recorded 74.
Four French soldiers stationed in the Sahel region with France's Barkhane force have tested positive for coronavirus, the army said on Thursday.
Col Frederic Barbry, spokesman for the French armed forces chief of staff, told AFP one of the soldiers was being treated in Africa while the other three were flown home.
The group arrived in the area several weeks ago and were not showing symptoms, Col Barbry said.
He said people with whom they had been in contact were being placed in quarantine but military operations were continuing as normal.
The 5,100 Barkhane troops fight extremists in the region in co-operation with Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad.
France last week said it would withdraw its troops from Iraq, most of whom are trainers to local armed forces, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
