Why We Need to Prepare Right Now for the Largest Humanitarian Crisis in History Melissa Matlow and Shaughn McArthur - iPolitics Insights
go to original May 26, 2017

‘Feed the World’ that infamous chorus that needs a replay as the United Nations warns of mass starvation in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria (TRT World)

Twenty million people are at risk of starvation across four countries. Famine has been officially declared in South Sudan. Somalia is reeling from drought. Deaths from hunger are on the rise in Nigeria and Yemen.

Lack of rainfall has made it impossible for people to grow their crops, feed their animals and meet their basic needs. At the same time, conflict and the threat of violence have stifled markets and hindered humanitarian organizations’ efforts to deliver life-saving support.

The UN has appealed for $4.4 billion USD to prevent the catastrophe from deepening. Despite Canada’s important contribution of $119.25 million, the global response remains only 30 per cent funded.

The unfolding hunger crisis provides an unlikely backdrop to two international summits taking place this month. G7 leaders have gathered in Italy; their agenda will include food security and migration, as well as previous commitments to lift 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.

On Thursday, government representatives gathered in Mexico to discuss how to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a global agreement aimed at preventing crises like famines and other types of disasters long before they start.

The G7 leaders’ summit undoubtedly will grab the spotlight, but it’s the discussions in Mexico that have the potential to save lives and livelihoods, and curb the escalating economic costs of disasters.

Read the rest at iPolitics Insights

Related: UN Report: 31 Million Displaced By War, Disaster Last Year (Newsday)

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