Context:
According to a recent Report by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP) Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, India’s neighbors, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar, are among the hunger hotspots in the world.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Highlights of the Report
- About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- About World Food Programme (WFP)
Highlights of the Report:
Acute Food Insecurity Hotspots:
- There are 18 areas in 22 countries where acute food insecurity is expected to increase in magnitude and severity.
- Hotspots with very high concern include Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Syrian Arab Republic.
- These hotspots have a high number of people facing critical acute food insecurity, and the drivers of food insecurity are expected to worsen in the coming months.
Highest Concern Level:
- Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen remain at the highest concern level for food insecurity.
- Haiti, the Sahel region (Burkina Faso and Mali), and Sudan have been elevated to the highest concern levels.
- This elevation is due to severe movement restrictions of people and goods in Haiti, as well as conflict eruptions in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Sudan.
Population at Risk:
- All hotspots at the highest concern level have populations already facing critical food insecurity or projected to face starvation.
- These areas are at risk of deteriorating towards catastrophic conditions due to severe aggravating factors.
Impact of Conflicts:
- New emerging conflicts, including the eruption of conflict in Sudan, are likely to drive global conflict trends and impact neighboring countries.
- The use of explosive ordnance and siege tactics in hunger hotspots contributes to pushing people into catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.
Weather Extremes:
- Weather extremes such as heavy rains, tropical storms, cyclones, flooding, drought, and increased climate variability are significant drivers of food insecurity in some countries and regions.
- The May 2023 forecast suggests an 82% likelihood of El Niño conditions starting in the May–July 2023 period, which will have significant implications for several hunger hotspots.
Economic Shocks:
- Deepening economic shocks are pushing low- and middle-income nations deeper into crisis, exacerbating food insecurity.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
- Its main objective is to lead international efforts in the fight against hunger.
- FAO was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
- It is one of the UN food aid organizations, along with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
- World Food Day is celebrated annually on October 16th to commemorate the establishment of FAO in 1945.
About World Food Programme (WFP)
- The World Food Programme is a leading humanitarian organization that saves lives and transforms lives through food assistance.
- It provides food aid during emergencies and works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
- WFP was founded in 1961 by the FAO and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
- Its headquarters are also located in Rome, Italy.
- WFP is a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) and collaborates with other UN agencies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The international community has committed to ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition by 2030.
- WFP operates in over 120 countries and territories, delivering life-saving food to people affected by conflict and disasters.
Source: Down to Earth
