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According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which is based in Rome, the coronavirus pandemic threatens to increase the number of famines. 149 million people are currently suffering from acute hunger, said the organization’s Assistant Executive Director Ute Klamert in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”, as Kathpress reported.
There were reliable indications that this number could rise to 270 million through Covid-19. In total, 690 million people worldwide do not have enough food.
No school meals because of lockdowns
The effects of the pandemic have already become apparent, according to the expert. One example is the school meals distributed by WFP – for many children the only meal of the day.
Due to school closures, almost 370 million children have missed this meal. This measure also affected 183 million girls living in “fragile conditions”: “It is highly likely that many of them will not return to school.
In eight out of ten food crises, conflicts led to “acute hunger hotspots”, Klamert explained. “You will never be able to defeat hunger if there is no peace.” Climate changes and an accumulation of extreme weather conditions also played an important role.
A “Food System Summit” is planned for next year, at which the worldwide production, distribution and consumption of food will be discussed. The UN organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October.
hp, Source: ORF.at/agencies, picture: pixabay.com
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