COVID-19 represents a global humanitarian disaster, said David Beasley, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme.
Mankind may face a biblical hunger in just a few months if countries’ food security measures are not taken in time. David Beesley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), told a virtual Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
“As long as there is no mass hunger in the world”, – he said. – “But I must warn you that if we don’t act now – to provide access, to prevent the interruption of funding and trade – we may face a truly biblical hunger in just a few months.”
“I want to emphasize that COVID-19 is not only a global health threat, but also a global humanitarian disaster”, – he said. – “Millions of civilians living in conflict zones, including women and children, are at risk of starvation.”
“Every day, 821 million people fall asleep hungry, chronically hungry. According to a recent WFP report, an additional 135 million people could now face critical levels of hunger”, – he said. – “But now, because of the coronavirus, another 130 million could be on the verge of starvation in 2020. That is only 265 million people”.
“With the worst case scenario, about 30 countries will face hunger”, – added Bisley.
According to him, in 10 of these countries, about 1 million people are already suffering from malnutrition. These are mainly countries affected by military conflicts.
In his speech, First Deputy Russian Postpresident to the UN Dmitry Polyansky noted that Russia pays great attention to helping these countries.
“We often provide these countries with humanitarian aid both through bilateral channels and the WFP”, – he said. – “In total, Russia annually allocates more than $40 million for these purposes”.
At the same time, Polyansky urged not to forget that often “the key cause of conflict and food insecurity is foreign intervention in the internal affairs of states,” as in the case of Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.