WFP Links Record Hunger Levels to Conflict, Climate Change, COVID-19

Amali Tower

September 22, 2020

At a UN Security Council meeting on conflict-induced food insecurity and the risk of famine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), northeast Nigeria, Yemen and South Sudan, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said the the COVID-19 pandemic had compounded widespread food insecurity caused by years of conflict, which now combined with conflict and climate change, meant that “the 270 million people marching toward the brink of starvation need our help more than ever,” adding that 2021 was a “make or break year.”

He urged billionaires and businesses to step up to help save 30 million people at risk of starvation who need $.4.9 billion in aid for one year.

“Worldwide, there are over 2,000 billionaires with a net worth of $8 trillion. In my home country, the USA, there are 12 individuals alone worth $1 trillion.”
“In fact, reports state that three of them made billions upon billions during COVID. I am not opposed to people making money, but humanity is facing the greatest crisis any of us have seen in our lifetimes.”
“It’s time for those who have the most to step up, to help those who have the least in this extraordinary time in world history. To show you truly love your neighbor,” Beasley said. “The world needs you right now and it’s time to do the right thing.”

WFP fears more people may die from hunger, resulting from economic impacts of the pandemic via lockdowns and lost jobs than the virus itself, which has now infected more than 30 million people and killed nearly 1 million people.

WFP warns 20 million are severely food insecure in Yemen and a further 3 million may face starvation due to COVID-19. South Sudan, where a path to peace was hoped, is now facing renewed violence and floods in Jonglei State, and millions are at risk in Nigeria, Burkina Faso and more.

The UN Security Council was briefed on September 17, via videoconference, by the UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and the Director-General of FAO Qu Dongyu, in addition to Beasley, following a “Note by the Secretariat” by Lowcock, required by Security Council resolution 2417, warning of food insecurity, including the risk of famine, as a result of conflict, in these four countries.

The note highlighted that food security has been exacerbated by natural disasters, economic shocks and public health crises, all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlighted the severe flooding over the last two years in South Sudan that destroyed 11,000 tons of cereals and affected 14 million livestock.

In a briefing on Yemen the previous day, Lowcock signaled frustration over severe funding shortfalls in all four countries. (VOA, CNBC, What’s In Blue)

Amali Tower

May 14, 2020

Covid-19, Climate Displacement

Weakened by War & Flood, Yemen Fights Twin Health Threat

Amali Tower

May 14, 2020

Covid-19, Climate Displacement

Weakened by War and Floods, Yemen Fights Twin Health Threat

“The War and climate change have created a humanitarian crisis.” This is what Abdulla Bin Ghouth, an epidemiologist from Yemen’s Hadhramout University College of Medicine says as Yemen announces an official tally of 72 cases of the novel coronavirus and 13 deaths, but health experts say the real numbers are likely much higher due to serious under-counting in the north and south of the country and lack of testing and tracking in the Arabina Peninsula. Life appears to be continuing as normal though, as people gather in crowded spaces, don’t social distance or take any protective measures despite government warnings. Yemen has been crippled by years of war and severe food shortages and now a wave of diseases linked to heavy rains are on the rise, straining an already shattered healthcare system, which health experts warn will be pushed to the brink of collapse with the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors are dealing with a rise in mosquito-borne diseases following rains and flash floods that began in January and brought with it a sharp spike in dengue and other viral fever cases, now disrupting the fight against the novel coronavirus. Where doctors usually saw three cases a day, in the past month alone, they have seen hundreds of patients with dengue and viral fevers and dozens of deaths. One hospital noted 6,000 cases of fever in only two months. Now also dealing with a shortage of testing kits and medical equipment, doctors are finding it impossible to diagnose whether patients are infected with COVID-19 or something else. (Reuters)

Analysis

As of today, Yemen has 85 positive COVID-19 cases. Since 2015, Yemen has suffered three Cholera outbreaks, a water-borne illness, where water has become weaponized in the civil war. Laws regulating water use are lacking, while climate stresses like extreme heat and drought have worsened social and health problems. Climate security experts count Yemen among countries that are at risk for increased conflict borne by climate change-fueled drought and water scarcity, made worse because the growing humanitarian needs strain the state’s ability to deal with the climate risks.