“At the end of June 2021, WFP’s Level 3 Emergency Response for the Central Sahel – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – was extended until 31 December 2021. Humanitarian needs in these three countries continue to increase, and the need for assistance is becoming more pressing. Conflict, displacement, climate change and the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 are the main drivers of growing food insecurity in these countries. Driven by the deteriorating insecurity, internal displacement increased over 30 percent in the past 10 months – resulting in added pressure on already limited resources and services and is exacerbating inter-community tensions. Agricultural lean season responses are ongoing in the three countries, targeting 1.3 million people in Burkina Faso (JuneAugust), 600,000 people in Mali (July-October) and 605,000 people in Niger (June-August). Distributions have started in end June/July, but due to critical funding constraints, country offices are providing reduced rations, by up to 54 percent (in Burkina Faso).”