The threat of social and political unrest around the world is rising as the coronavirus crisis fuels discontent amid food shortages, job losses and lockdowns.
A dedicated network of volunteers at nonprofits, churches and shelters is trying to keep Los Angeles’ homeless communities fed during the global coronavirus outbreak.“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Arif Husain, senior economist at the U.N. agency, said in a statement. “It is a hammer blow for millions more who can only eat if they earn a wage. It only takes one more shock — like COVID-19 — to push them over the edge.
Last year, 135 million people in 55 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity and were in need of food aid, with conflict and climate change being the major drivers, according to the report. Africa had the largest number of people affected. The pandemic threatens to drive up acute food insecurity in countries that depend on food imports or derive much of their incomes from oil, tourism and remittances, the organizations said. The outbreak may also affect humanitarian aid as resources are diverted to other virus-related efforts, they said.
The report recommended expanding monitoring systems to ensure early action in future to help the most vulnerable to access food. The organizations also called for more support for food processing, transport and local food markets, as well as allowing open trade corridors.Governments need to help farmers access inputs such as seeds and fertilizers to aid next year’s food production, Husain said in an online briefing Tuesday.
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