Food crisis starts to bite Africa amid Russia-Ukraine war

Disruptions in food shipments after the Russian invasion of Ukraine are pushing up prices of food staples in Africa, making an already alarming situation worse. With food insecurity and acute hunger set to increase, affecting 174 million people, Africa is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.

Global hunger, already reeling from the effects of climate change and Covid-19, suffered another blow when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2021. In import-dependent countries of Africa, prices of food staples reached levels never seen before, amplifying inequality, hunger, and poverty.

The region saw bread prices increase over 50 per cent after one month of the war. The UN’s Food Price Index, which measures the change in international food prices, said food commodity prices increased 12.6 per cent from February to March. This is the sharpest increase in prices since the 1990s.

In fact, the World Food Programme has warned that acute hunger may increase by 17 per cent globally, with the sharpest increase expected in countries of west, east and southern Africa. In these regions, food insecurity may rise by 20.8 per cent and affect 174 million people. In response to the food shortages caused by the war, the G7 nations on Tuesday pledged to spend $4.5 billion this year to ensure food security.

Let’s take a look at how the Ukraine war is aggravating the food crisis in Africa.

Russia & Ukraine’s role

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/food-crisis-africa-russia-ukraine-war-8004799/


Post ID: b4c056c1-0046-488b-af60-278fc4dff1e0
Rating: 5
Created: 1 year ago
Your ad can be here
Create Post

Similar classified ads


News's other ads