Millions risk dying of hunger

Millions of people around the world risk dying of hunger and the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change are increasing the threat, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.  

"Without immediate action, millions of people will reach the brink of extreme hunger and death," Guterres told the Security Council during a meeting on the links between food and security on Thursday.

Guterres said over 30 million people in more than three dozen countries are "just one step away" from a declaration of famine.

"Climate shocks and the Covid-19 pandemic are adding fuel to the flames. I have one simple message: if you don't feed people, you feed conflict," he said.

At the end of 2020, more than 88 million people were suffering from acute hunger due to conflict and instability -- a 20 percent increase in one year, he said, pointing to a worsening trend in 2021. High-risk zones include the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, South Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan.

In Yemen, more than 16 million people now face crisis levels of hunger or worse, said David Beasley, the head of the World Food Program, who just returned from that country torn by four years of war.

"We are headed straight toward the biggest famine in modern history. It is hell on earth in many places in Yemen right now," he added.

He said around 400,000 children may die in Yemen this year unless there is urgent intervention.

"That is roughly one child every 75 seconds. Are we really going to turn our backs on them and look the other way?" said Beasley.

Guterres said that in order to save 34 million people in the high risk zones, the United Nations and its agencies have appealed for emergency mobilization of $5.5 billion.