Food distribution in Mogadiscio. Somalia is on the brink of famine.
(dpa) In view of the growing number of starving people, Welthungerhilfe is demanding more support from rich countries for the people affected. “It is essential now to react quickly to the dramatic effects of inflation and skyrocketing prices and to provide humanitarian aid that does justice to the dimensions of the crises and saves lives,” said Secretary General Mathias Mogge of the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday). The crises are currently intensifying due to conflicts, climate change and the economic consequences of the corona pandemic. Millions of people are “chronically malnourished”.
The world community failed to act on earlier warning signs. Investments in rural development, among other things, are now necessary “so that people in poor countries can react better to upcoming shocks and cushion the consequences,” said Mogge.
The aid organization Misereor also considers “substantial investments in the transformation of the food systems” to be necessary. “The goal must be crisis-proof agriculture geared to local markets that produces sufficient and healthy food. Our project partners are already working very successfully on exactly these points – these paths must be pursued further,” said Misereor CEO Pirmin Spiegel.
According to estimates by the United Nations (UN), the number of people suffering from hunger worldwide continued to rise in the past year due to numerous crises. On average, around 768 million people were affected by hunger in 2021, around 46 million more than in the previous year, according to the annual report on the global supply situation, which was presented in New York on Wednesday. The world is moving backwards in its bid to end hunger by 2030, the experts wrote. Even if the global economy recovers, the UN expects there will still be 670 million hungry people in 2030.