‘Catastrophic’ hunger persists in multiple countries, warn food agencies Published: 2024-10-31 12:00
Multiple countries are facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger, with over 300 million people acutely food insecure and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, according to a new report by several food agencies.
The report, released on October 31, 2024, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the European Union, warns that the situation is particularly dire in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.
“These countries are facing a perfect storm of conflict, climate change, and economic shocks, which is pushing millions of people to the brink of starvation,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the WFP. “We urgently need to scale up our assistance to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.”
The report finds that the number of people facing acute food insecurity has increased by over 50 million since 2020. The main drivers of this increase are:
- Conflict: Armed conflict is a major driver of hunger, as it disrupts food production, distribution, and markets. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, conflict has forced millions of people to flee their homes, making it difficult for them to access food.
- Climate change: Climate change is also a major threat to food security. Drought, floods, and other extreme weather events are destroying crops and livestock, making it difficult for people to feed themselves. In the Horn of Africa, for example, a prolonged drought has led to widespread crop failures and livestock deaths.
- Economic shocks: Economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, are also contributing to hunger. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains and caused food prices to rise, making it difficult for people to afford food. The war in Ukraine has also disrupted wheat and sunflower oil supplies, which has led to higher food prices around the world.
The report also warns that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months. Conflict, climate change, and economic shocks are all expected to continue to drive up food prices and make it more difficult for people to access food.
“We are facing a very real risk of a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO. “We need to act now to prevent this from happening.”
The report calls on the international community to increase funding for humanitarian assistance, support efforts to build resilience to conflict and climate change, and promote sustainable agriculture.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer,” said Beasley. “We need to act now to save lives and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.”
‘Catastrophic’ hunger persists in multiple countries, warn food agencies
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