World Faces Unprecedented Global Hunger Crisis, UN Chief Says
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called for debt relief for poor countries and warned of an “unprecedented” global food crisis. This crisis, he said, is already wreaking havoc in the world’s most vulnerable countries, and will worsen in coming years. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the disruptions in the food supply chain. Inequality and the climate crisis have also caused damage, but now the conflict in Ukraine has added another twist to the mix.
By the end of the decade, 828 million people will still be suffering from hunger. The number of food insecure will reach 2.3 billion by 2022. An increase of 350 million people is projected in both Africa and Asia. More than nine hundred million people will have severe food insecurity. As a result, governments must step up their efforts and contribute cash to combat the problem. This includes addressing the root causes of the problem.
Climate shocks are destroying livelihoods, crops, and threatening people’s ability to feed themselves. In 2020, up to 30 million people will be displaced around the world. The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have also contributed to this unprecedented hunger crisis. The cost of getting food to people in need is increasing as well. The price of food that the World Food Programme must pay to feed the hungry is now up to 30% more than in 2019, and nearly 42 million people will go hungry each month.
Earlier this year, the United Nations Secretary-General called for debt relief for poor countries, and urged the private sector to help stabilize the global food market. In the same year, a Ukrainian teen was swept through months of ordeal to reach the U.S., and Russia wants sanctions lifted on its grains. In response to the Russian invasion, the UN and Turkey are working to broker a deal. In the meantime, Guterres asked ministers to consider the implications of the financial crisis in developing countries.
Despite the recent upheaval in Ukraine, many countries still face high levels of food insecurity, which threatens to revert years of development and could prevent the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Insecurity and conflict are factors contributing to the increasing food insecurity around the world. And, according to the UN Secretary-General, the conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated the problem. Ukraine and Russia account for 30% of the world’s wheat exports and 18% of its corn export.
As a result of the food shortage, the price of essential food products has increased by up to 40 percent. War and inflation have exacerbated the situation, pushing prices up across the board, with low-income countries feeling the brunt of the rise. Even those countries with good food security are feeling the pinch. The rising cost of energy and food are making it increasingly difficult to feed children. Despite the high food prices and shortages, only one-third of severely malnourished children receive proper treatment for their condition.