Food security remains an issue of great concern

Food security was already “deteriorating” in many countries before the Ukraine war, but has since worsened, an expert from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, adding that all countries will eventually feel the impact of higher food prices.

“Food security outcomes in many countries were deteriorating well before the war started, as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted livelihoods, and food prices were already high,” FAO Economist Monika Tothova told media outlets.

According to a report released by the FAO and the World Food Program last week, acute food insecurity is likely to worsen in 20 countries between June and September this year.

Countries included in the joint report that were at risk of food insecurity included: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia (mostly Tigray), Syria, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, Haiti, Niger, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Chad, Mali, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Benin, and Cabo Verde.

These countries, some of which are referred to by the UN organizations as hunger hotspots, are facing food security issues for varied reasons, some of which include natural disasters, conflict, and economic crises.

The WFP predicted that between 179 million and 181 million people will be in crisis or worse when it comes to food security, a staggering increase from the 139 million already affected in 2021, which accounted for an increase of 40 million people since 2020.

Countries which are exporting energy commodities, such as Algeria, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia are in a better financial position and able to fund increased cost of food imports.”

On the other hand, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan are experiencing very high levels of food insecurity due to conflict, “weather shocks,” and “deteriorating macroeconomic conditions.”

Tothova said that Yemen, which has been “the center of one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises,” has around 17.4 million people who are now in need of food aid.

Lebanon’s economic crisis also constrained employment opportunities, and high levels of currency devaluation decreased the purchasing power.

Elsewhere in the region, food security outcomes are not expected to be as extreme, but people are likely to begin to spend more on food and energy, leaving them with less money to spend on other items.