As coronavirus continues to wreak havoc around the world, new data suggest the worse is still yet to come. The virus has shaken the world and placed many countries in a complete standstill. Businesses are going into hibernation, people are losing their jobs, and charitable relief efforts are coming to a halt.
COVID-19 hasn’t just affected those who have contacted the novel coronavirus, whose numbers now stand at just under 18 million confirmed cases. The effects of our borders closing down and economies coming to a standstill will undoubtedly have ripple effects way into the future.
Experts now believe that coronavirus will cause an additional 10,000 children to die from starvation every month. This has led to the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Food Program, and the Food and Agriculture Organization to call for the establishment of a $2.4bn global hunger fund.
America and Beyond
The number of children now suffering from food poverty that resulted from the coronavirus measures can be seen in every corner of the world. Recent research suggests that by the end of April, more than one in five households in the United States suffered from food insecurity.
The situation in Yemen has also reached a crisis point. The country has been torn apart by constant warfare, but it’s now believed that an additional 30,000 children could develop life-threatening, severe acute malnutrition over the next six months. That’s a massive rise of 20% of malnourished children currently living in Yemen due to the crisis.
In Africa, we see similar issues. The BBC recently reported that two-thirds of people in 20 different African countries would run out of food and water if they had to stay at home for 14 days under lockdown. Oxfam has also said that over 40 million people face hunger in Southern Africa.
How Coronavirus is Leaving People Hungry
The spread of the coronavirus has prompted many governments to shut down large parts of the global economy. This includes schools, hospitals, and medical centers. Restrictions on movement have also prevented many from getting food or taking children to food aid centers.
Nutritional programs set up to help those most in need have been shut down. This includes the near-global suspension of Vitamin A supplements, which are vital for bolstering children’s developing immune systems.
The governmental restrictions that have been introduced into many countries have made gaining access to food and food programs almost impossible. Parents have lost their jobs or are unable to work, forcing more families into deprivation.
In Sudan, it’s estimated that some 9.6 million people live from one meal to the next. Inflation has currently hit 136%, and prices for essential goods have tripled. With no work, no income, and increasing costs for basic food, the Sudanese are finding themselves in a severe hunger crisis.
Coronavirus has brought our world to its knees, the effects of which are now pushing increasing numbers of people to the brink of desperation. With no end in sight to normalcy, the number of people going hungry is expected to increase significantly.
The new global hunger fund initiated by the UN will be vital to helping those most in need.
What Can You Do to Help?
While the UN will do what it can to implement the fund for hunger, we can all chip in to help support those who have been left the most vulnerable. At the present, Food for Life has 211 active projects worldwide serving over 2 million plant-based, nutritious meals every day to those who need it most.
Please help us during this unprecedented time by helping to support those being affected by the pandemic!
You Can Help!
Food For Life Global’s primary mission is to bring about peace and prosperity in the world through the liberal distribution of pure plant-based meals prepared with loving intention.
