Acute hunger is set to worsen in around 20 countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, conflict, climate change, and various other factors said in a joint report published Tuesday the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).
The two Rome-based agencies released a 37-page report showing Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria topped the list, and already facing catastrophic levels of acute hunger.
Although the majority of affected countries are in Africa, acute famine is expected to skyrocket in almost all regions of the world, including Afghanistan in Asia, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East, and Haiti in Latin America. and the Caribbean, the report says.
FAO and WFP have said more than 34 million people around the world “face severe levels of acute hunger,” meaning they are one step away from starving. This number could also increase significantly in the coming months if international aid is not stepped up, according to the report.
“The extent of the suffering is alarming. It is incumbent on all of us to act now and act quickly to save lives, preserve people’s livelihoods and prevent the situation from worsening,” the statement said in a statement. FAO Director General Qu Dongyu.
“We must start a race against time, and not pass up this opportunity to protect, stabilize and even possibly increase local food production,” Qu added.
Echoing Qu’s words, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said: “We see a catastrophe unfolding before our eyes. Fueled by conflict, climate shocks, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the famine threatens millions of families “.
