Global Food Crisis may kill more people than the coronavirus!
A recently released report by the Food Security Information Network says already, 135 million people were facing acute food insecurity, highest in the four years of study on Global Food Crisis. The study estimates with the COVID 19 pandemic, 130 million more could go hungry in 2020. The world has never faced a hunger emergency to this scale, and push over 265 million people towards starvation by the end of this year.
Lack of access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food causes food insecurity. For communities to access secure food, it should be accessible in adequate quantities to maintain the nutritional balance. The number of people battling acute hunger and suffering is increasing; collecting reliable and timely data on the food crisis is challenging.
An estimated 75 million children are living in hunger in over 55 countries. These children have limited access to sufficient nutritional diet, clean drinking water, sanitation and health care facilities.
According to the International Labour Organisation, almost 200 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of COVID-19, causing significant unemployment and under-employment, reducing people’s purchasing power. Daily wage earners in the informal economies, service sector, agriculture and plantation industries are at risk of losing their income due to government restrictions and market loss. In 2016 East Africa experienced mass displacements due to famine and conflicts. Similarly, COVID 19 lockdowns will trigger food insecurity and resulting in mass displacements around the world.
A recently published article in the New York Times stated: “The world has never faced a hunger emergency like this”.
In Uganda, food rations have been cut to more than 1.4 million vulnerable refugees by 30%, WFP also warns further cuts could follow.
How do we respond? Can we spread hope, not fear –Act with love and self-discipline.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The global situation looks uncertain and fearful, not knowing what will happen tomorrow. But, God has given us the power to love the neighbours, and meet their needs by demonstrating God’s love. Same time we are called to do this with a sound mind, knowing the circumstances, regulations and restrictions.
An estimated 75 million children are living in hunger in over 55 countries. These children have limited access to sufficient nutritional diet, clean drinking water, sanitation and health care facilities.
According to the International Labour Organisation, almost 200 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of COVID-19, causing significant unemployment and under-employment, reducing people’s purchasing power. Daily wage earners in the informal economies, service sector, agriculture and plantation industries are at risk of losing their income due to government restrictions and market loss. In 2016 East Africa experienced mass displacements due to famine and conflicts. Similarly, COVID 19 lockdowns will trigger food insecurity and resulting in mass displacements around the world.
A recently published article in the New York Times stated: “The world has never faced a hunger emergency like this”.
In Uganda, food rations have been cut to more than 1.4 million vulnerable refugees by 30%, WFP also warns further cuts could follow.
How do we respond? Can we spread hope, not fear –Act with love and self-discipline.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The global situation looks uncertain and fearful, not knowing what will happen tomorrow. But, God has given us the power to love the neighbours, and meet their needs by demonstrating God’s love. Same time we are called to do this with a sound mind, knowing the circumstances, regulations and restrictions.