Tullamore native warning that post-Covid food insecurity could affect more than 270 million people worldwide

Photo: Tullamore native Fiona O’Malley is Director of Communications and Fundraising for World Vision Ireland.

World Vision Ireland is warning that post-Covid food insecurity could affect 270 million people in the world’s most fragile communities.

The child-focused international aid charity, says that the food insecurity crisis caused by Covid-19 will affect the world’s vulnerable communities. The charity said it will affect the most remote and the poorest countries in the developing world.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the number of acute food insecure people in its countries of operation could increase from 149 million pre-COVID-19 to 270 million before the end of the year, if action is not taken.

“This equates to an increase of 82% from WFP pre-Covid-19 estimates.” Fiona O’Malley, Director of Communications and Fundraising for World Vision Ireland, who is a native of Tullamore said.

“Food insecurity has risen by 70% over the past four years, predominately because of global warming, recessions and conflicts. As with every crisis, this food insecurity will affect the poorest the worst. It will affect children already malnourished, parents struggling to feed tiny babies and children trying to focus in school while weak with the hunger.

“Often, people think the worst international implication of Covid-19 will be job losses and economic downturn. They don’t usually consider major disruption to food systems. This disruption will be disastrous for communities where there is a high dependency on transported food stock, for example, in countries affected by drought, flooding or climate change devastation. Communities already hit by extreme poverty or natural disasters will be disproportionately affected by this predicted food insecurity.”

Food Insecurity by Region:

Asia and the Pacific:

27.1 million pre-COVID-19;

49.6 million projected by the end of 2020

83% increase

East Africa:

24 million pre-COVID-19;

41.5 million projected by the end of 2020

73% increase

Latin America and the Caribbean:

4.3 million pre-COVID-19;

16 million projected by the end of 2020

269% increase

Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa:

41.1 million pre-COVID-19;

53 million projected by the end of 2020

29% increase.

Southern Africa:

27.5 million pre-COVID-19;

42 million projected by the end of 2020

90% increase.

West and Central Africa:

5 million pre-COVID-19;

5 million projected by the end of 2020

135% increase.

World Vision is responding to the Covid-19 crisis in more than 70 countries across the world, prioritising the most vulnerable countries. The response aims to target 72 million people, more than half of them children.

World Vision Ireland is calling on the Irish public to donate whatever they can by going to https://www.worldvision.ie/transaction/where-the-need-is-greatest