UN: global hunger could
double due to COVID-19
Reuters
GENEVA
The number of people fac-
ing acute food insecurity
could nearly double this
year to 265 million due to
the economic fallout of CO-
VID-19, the United Nations'
World Food Programme
(WFP) said on Tuesday.
The impact of lost tou-
rism revenues, falling remit-
tances and travel and other
restrictions linked to the co-
ronavirus pandemic are ex-
pected to leave some 130
million people acutely hun-
gry this year, adding to
around 135 million already
in that category.
“COVID-19 is potentially
catastrophic for millions
who are already hanging by
a thread,” said Arif Husain,
chief economist and direc-
tor of research, assessment
and monitoring at the World
Food Programme (WFP).
“We all need to come to-
gether to deal with this be-
cause if we don't the cost
will be too high,” he said.
Mr. Husain said it was
critical to act quickly in or-
der to prevent people alrea-
dy living hand-to-mouth,
such as food vendors in Ke-
nya, from selling their assets
as it could take them years
to become self-reliant again.