The world is facing an unprecedented hunger crisis. In 2019, 135 million people faced acute food insecurity while today, that number has more than doubled to 345 million people.
This crisis is driven by the Russia-Ukraine war and is further compounded by the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The war in Ukraine has severely impacted Ukraine’s wheat production, global inflation due to rising energy prices, and stretched supply chains. Regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and Asia significantly depend on wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia. Egypt depended on 82% of its wheat and Somalia and Benin acquired all of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia. According to the Chief Economist and Director of Research, Assessment, and Monitoring at the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Arif Husain, there are a total of 36 countries that relied on at least 50% of wheat imported from Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia exported about 1/3 of the world’s wheat and half of the world’s sunflower oil, and are major suppliers of fertilizer. The war has so far prevented the export of 20 million tons of grain to these dependent regions, wheat prices have increased by as much as 750%, and energy prices reached their highest level since 1973.
The war and sanctions against Russia for the invasion have led to significant global risk. While the international community is largely united in its support for, and aid to, Ukraine, this focus has diverted attention and funds from other regions and crises. Countries such as Yemen, Myanmar, Colombia, and the whole Horn of Africa, for example, have seen a loss in donor commitments as money is prioritized toward Ukraine. The insufficient international aid has worsened with the rapidly growing prices of food and export costs. The WFP is an organization instrumental in providing food and resources to countries in need, especially famine watch spots such as Yemen, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Current conditions have increased the number of famine watch spots in WFP’s food aid program while rising costs continue to cut its provided rations. For instance, food aid will be cut for 2 million people in South Sudan and “resilience and livelihood activities, and school feeding and nutrition programs” will be cut for 4 million people in Yemen.
The war in Ukraine is not the only factor contributing to the hunger crisis. Numerous countries are facing climate shocks which were compounded by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the war, food prices were already at a ten-year high and nearly 56% of the world’s low-income countries were in debt distress. The pandemic gravely affected supply chains, poverty levels, and national governments’ abilities to provide social welfare for their citizens.
Furthermore, the Horn of Africa was already suffering from a record-breaking drought before the war, putting the lives of millions at risk of facing famine. 1.7 billion people were impacted by climate-related disasters in the past 10 years. Climate change impacts crop yields, livestock, food availability and quality, and distribution and transportation.
Isobel Coleman, the Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming at USAID, emphasizes the argument made by numerous food experts: hunger and conflict create a dangerous cycle of violence. Conflict impacts food imports and displaces farmers, prices increase, and the resulting hardships often result in increased violence. Hunger impacts displacement as people seek better livelihoods elsewhere, and the consequent decrease in farmers impedes agricultural production. The current crisis far surpasses the conditions faced during the 2007-2008 food price crisis and the 2011 Arab Spring, generating serious concern among conflict experts who emphasize the driving link between hunger and conflict. Widespread protests and political violence arose as a result of these events in the past. As countries such as Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Peru already face political instability and protests, this food crisis will exacerbate destabilization and escalate violence.
According to UN findings, the most effective solutions to prevent the continuation of this dangerous cycle include small-scale farming, long-term development investment, and protecting supply chains that provide critical resources such as fertilizer and seeds to farmers. Food experts urge the international community to finance facilities for food, fuel, and fertilizer for countries in need. Supporting local and long-term development projects is the key to ensuring effective support and development. These projects can include local agricultural production, climate education, food reserve management, crisis monitoring, or funding of social welfare programs. On a wider scale, as climate experts have consistently urged, conservation at the individual level is integral and makes a significant difference.
Tia Savarese
Tia Savarese is a recent graduate of the George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with concentrations in Conflict Resolution and Security Policy and a minor in Spanish. She serves as the Commissioning Editor and Social Media Manager for Peace News Network while residing in Washington, DC. Before joining PNN, she interned for a communication firm, a think tank, and the federal government.
