The foreword by the UN Secretary-General to the latest report on the global food crises published by the Food Security Information Network (“FSIN”), sounds the alarm on the systemic change that is needed to achieve food security and nutrition for all. The purpose of the report is to provide data on the countries that required external humanitarian assistance in 2022, to inform how policies and programmes should respond to the challenges identified. According to the report, in 2022 an estimated 258 million people across 58 countries or territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, the highest on record since 2017 when the reporting of this data began. The report does acknowledge that due to data gaps from certain regions, this number is expected to be higher.
Factors increasing risk
The factors contributing to this statistic are conflict or insecurity; extreme weather conditions, such as the severe drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, flooding in Pakistan and tropical storms and cyclones in Southern Africa; and economic shocks which include the impacts of Covid-19 and the effects of the war in Ukraine. The report contains detailed regional assessments of these factors, including the resulting displacement of impacted people and the additional contributors to poor nutrition and food insecurity that arise from displacement. It is also acknowledged that in some contexts, displacement of rural populations leads to a shortfall in agricultural production.
Delayed interventions
The report further highlights the reality that often the famine classification is awaited before international aid is provided, forcing vulnerable people to use coping mechanisms that compromises their future ability to sustain themselves. Research on intergenerational trauma is also cited as a consequence of a failed intervention in alleviating a food insecurity situation, with unborn generations bearing the impacts of lost livelihoods. However these impacts can be mitigated, with the report citing studies which indicate that cost and livelihood savings arise when early assistance is provided. The contributing factors however remain, and the report notes that this has created an unsustainable situation of aid dependency.
This report presents dire statistics, however as noted by the Secretary-General progress can be made with collective action.
To understand famines and food insecurity further the study by Amartya Sen, Poverty and Famines. An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, should be essential reading.
The full report can be accessed on the FSIN website here.
Sustainable Capabilities 