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13 Latin American and Caribbean countries are home to nearly 10 million people suffering from severe food insecurity, WFP warned.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis and climate change have led to increased food insecurity in Latin America.
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The WFP regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean said that about 10 million people suffer from severe food insecurity in 13 countries in the region. Should the current situation continues, it is expected to rise to 13.3 million.
The director of the WFP regional office, Lola Castro, said it is necessary to urgently assist the most vulnerable populations and address the structural causes of the problems.
The official urged support for the small farmer sector, expansion of existing safety nets, stimulating investment, and generating employment opportunities in the affected communities.
The number of people pushed into hunger has INCREASED by a shocking 150 million compared to before the pandemic.
— World Food Programme (@WFP) July 25, 2022
Understand the numbers - and what's driving them: https://t.co/RhIGTkN6FK pic.twitter.com/zBQi9vZNHu
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that the year-on-year price of corn rose by more than 70 percent in Honduras and Nicaragua, while wheat prices rose by 90 percent in Argentina.
The rise in food prices is a factor that directly impacts the increase in food insecurity in the region. More than 7 million people in Guatemala and Honduras face severe difficulties accessing food.
The annual report on the state of food security and nutrition in the world revealed that between 2020 and 2021, the number of undernourished people rose to 56.4 million, of which 8.6 percent are in Latin America.
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