700 million people do not know when will they eat next: UN food chief
One in ten people worldwide goes to bed hungry every night.
Currently, there is a global hunger crisis affecting over 700 million people, which is being exacerbated by rising food demand and falling humanitarian funding. More than 700 million people worldwide are suffering from a hunger crisis that leaves them unsure of when or if they will be able to eat again, and the demand for food is growing steadily as aid is running out, according to the head of the United Nations food agency on Thursday, As reported by the AP. According to AP, while funding for humanitarian causes is declining, demand for food is steadily rising. Up to 783 million people, or one in ten of the world’s population, still go to bed hungry every night, according to estimates from 79 countries where the WFP operates.
Millions face food ration cuts amidst soaring prices and crop decline
According to an open source, The World Food Program’s executive director, Cindy McCain, informed the United Nations Security Council that the organization has had to reduce food rations for millions of people due to a shortage of funds, and “more cuts are on the way.” The Agency said, According to the agency, high fertilizer prices have led to a decline in the output of maize, rice, soybeans, and wheat at the same time that the economic effects of the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have made food prices unaffordable for millions of people throughout the world.
This year, more than 345 million people experience severe food insecurity, up nearly 200 million from early 2021 before the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the agency.
In addition to being the widow of the late US Senator John McCain, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP) has disclosed that the organization’s estimations show that almost 47 million people in more than 50 nations are on the verge of starvation. Alarmingly, this number includes the roughly 45 million young children who are currently suffering from acute malnutrition.
“Our collective challenge is to ramp up the ambitious, multi-sectoral partnerships that will enable us to tackle hunger and poverty effectively, and reduce humanitarian needs over the long-term,” McCain urged business leaders at the council meeting focusing on humanitarian public-private partnerships. The aim is not just financing, but also finding innovative solutions to help the world’s neediest, the AP report quoted.
Mastercard CEO’s call to action
Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, told the council that “humanitarian relief has long been the domain of government” and development institutions, and the private sector was seen as a source of financial donations for supplies, As reported by the AP. He said, “Money is still important, but companies can offer so much more.”
Miebach emphasized that humanitarian situations affect people all around the world and that “business cannot succeed in a failing world.” He asserted that a company can enhance infrastructure, “innovate new approaches and deliver solutions at scale” to enhance humanitarian operations.
According to the report, The revenue of many multinational corporations rivals the GDP of some of the Group of 20 nations with the largest economies, Jared Cohen, president of global relations at Goldman Sachs, told the council. Furthermore, he said that five American businesses and several of their international competitors employ more than 500,000 people, which is more than the combined populations of up to 20 U.N. members.
“Today’s global firms have responsibilities to our shareholders, clients, staff, communities, and the rules-based international order that makes it possible for us to do business,” he said.
Unprecedented obstacles must be overcome to address the global hunger crisis, including creative solutions. To address the underlying causes, lessen the effects, and map a route towards a future free from hunger, collaboration between the public and commercial sectors must be encouraged as the globe struggles with this rising catastrophe.
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