New York, October 14 (IPS) – This year alone, the global impact of compounding crises demonstrates, more than ever, why food scarcity must be addressed nationally. economy and what changes are needed in the food and agricultural systems.
October 16 is World Food Day, and this year it seems important to consider the causes and consequences of global food insecurity. Food insecurity has become more worrisome in recent years as the global COVID-19 pandemic disrupts systems of governance, trade, welfare and humanitarian aid connected to the United States. our each other. This year has seen a continuation of those disruptions exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic and the growing challenges posed by natural disasters, conflict and rising prices due to climate and the environment. cause.
The impact couldn’t be more obvious. The results of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) show more than 40% of the world population – or 3.1 billion people – cannot have a healthy diet and 828 million people are hungry. Food prices rise on crops such as meat, grains and canola oil break food price indexdecreased for six months.
An increase in food insecurity and its impact on global hunger has been observed worldwide. But between certain regions, there are clear disparities. Africa has been bearing a greater burden of food insecurity. One New report from FAO revealed that by 2021, 20.2 percent, or one-fifth of the total population, will go hungry. The next highest percentage is Asia, with 9.1%. A large difference would be more than enough to raise an alert.
This food insecurity also leads to deficiencies of micronutrients such as zinc, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, folate and vitamin D. These deficiencies can lead to long-term losses in the quality of food. health and cognitive development. This will be fatal, especially for young children who are still growing and still need proper nutrition.
Researchers from the Global Alliance for Nutrition Improvement (GAIN) conducted a Analysis of global prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in children of preschool age and women of childbearing age who are not pregnant. Its findings showed that more than half of the preschool children and two-thirds of the women in the study reported iron, zinc or folate deficiencies. Regionally, the majority of children and women live in East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia or sub-Saharan Africa. Although the report acknowledges its limitations, and rarely is the prevalence of deficiency quantified, and there is no universal standard rate at the time of the study, as GAIN CEO Dr. Lawrence Haddad stated. notedisturbing effects can be observed for a broader demographic group.
“Once we take into account men and other age groups, such as school children and the elderly, these numbers imply that our current global proposition that two billion people suffer latent hunger is an underestimation.”
In the context of Africa and the Sahel region, the capacity of local governments to respond to food crises is limited or difficult to implement in the face of conflict in the region and in neighboring countries. Even international intervention from groups like FAO and the World Food Program (WFP) has had to work with limited resources and funding. In February, it was reported that over the past three years in the Sahel, the number of people facing hunger has increased dramatically and dramatically, from 3.6 to 10.5 million.
Forced displacement due to conflicts in the region also affects food security, such as more than 5 million people living in a state of forced relocation from Burkina Faso to the Lake Chad Basin area.
But what is perhaps more urgent, and more devastating, is the impact of climate change or other environmental disasters on food security. In particular, the Sahel region is susceptible to Severe weather conditions such as heavy rains and floods, and the Horn of Africa is experiencing a historic drought this year. Looking to other regions, the recent floods that devastated Pakistan have wreaked havoc Worth 70 billion USD from rice. This has also led to an increase in the price of rice in the international market from other major rice exporting countries such as India, Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on rice imports. It’s an example of how the world is connected and how we depend on each other to help meet our most basic and essential need: food.
With all these crises piled up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But it also makes the theme of World Food Day more relevant. That’s why this year’s theme is like a call to action: leaving no one behind. These challenges will persist and only further overwhelm the global community unless we unite in efforts to reduce food insecurity. We are undeniably and closely dependent on each other to meet our food, health and security needs. “Leave no one behind” is a simplified approach and reminder, to a problem with complex parts and overlapping problems.
This call to action will only materialize when larger systemic changes are made in the food system and when this is reviewed regularly rather than allowing the next major natural disaster to occur. follow.
Report of the United Nations Office IPS
By @IPSNewsUNBureau
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