Russia blocks ships carrying grain exports
17/3/2022: Up to 300 ships have been stopped by Russian forces from departing the Black Sea, leaving one of the key global trade routes for grain virtually blocked. The fertile region is known as "the world's breadbasket." The International Maritime Organization has called for so-called blue corridors to allow the ships to leave the Black Sea without the risk of attack or hitting a mine.
Source: DW
Afghanistan: Food insecurity threatens ‘an entire generation’
15/3/2022: People in Afghanistan are today facing a food insecurity and malnutrition crisis of “unparalleled proportions”, according to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. Acute hunger in the country rose from 14 million in July, to 23 million in March.
Source: UN News
Yemen facing ‘outright catastrophe’ over rising hunger
14/3/2022: New data analysis from war-ravaged Yemen indicates potentially record food insecurity. Of extreme concern to humanitarians is the likelihood that the number of people experiencing famine-like levels of hunger will increase five fold, from 31,000 now, to 161,000, by 31 December.
Source: UN News
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drives global food insecurity
14/3/2022: The IMF has issued a warning that the world's food supplies are in peril. Russian's invasion of Ukraine is not the sole factor driving global food insecurity, but it is significant. The UN and the World Bank have offered a similar prognosis.
Source: DW
War in Ukraine poised to threaten global food security
10/3/2022: World food prices were already at their highest levels since 1975 and will now rise further due to the loss of food production from Ukraine (and to some extent Russia). Maintaining food export markets and increasing humanitarian aid are key solutions.
Source: Inter Press Service
The world’s hungry cannot afford another conflict
4/3/2022: As its emergency operation in Ukraine moved into high gear the World Food Programme expressed deep concern that the crisis could have consequences well beyond Ukraine's borders. The Russian Federation and Ukraine are responsible for 29% of the global wheat trade
Source: World Food Programme
Ukraine conflict threatens Africa’s food security
24/2/2022: There is significant agricultural trade between African countries and both Russia and Ukraine especially in wheat. Disruption to shipments would add to existing concerns about global food price inflation.
Source: The Conversation
Peasants marginalized by big farmers
15/2/2022: A new study finds that farms smaller than 5 hectares accounted for 63% of land in low and lower middle-income countries. but only 8% of farmland in upper middle and high-income countries. Evidence that smallholders achieve higher productivity continues to provoke debate.
Source: Inter Press Service
Millions face severe hunger as drought grips Horn of Africa
8/2/2022: The Horn of Africa is experiencing the driest conditions recorded since 1981 with severe drought affecting Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The World Food Programme is calling for $327 million to respond to immediate needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months.
Source: World Food Programme
Social protection is key to COVID-19 action on hunger
7/2/2022: Since the first reported case of COVID-19 hunger has increased quickly across all regions. Experience from more than 200 countries has shown that those with strong social protection systems were better able to respond according to the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization