As we mark one year since February 24, 2022, the war in Ukraine continues to inflict untold suffering on civilians, to displace families, and to disrupt supply chains and food production in the country and around the globe.
In Haiti where gang violence compounded by rising global food and fuel prices, have led to protests that have brought the country to a standstill, completely paralyzing economic activities and transport. Almost half the population is currently facing acute hunger and for the first time ever in Haiti 19,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger in the Port-au-Prince commune of Cit¨¨ Soleil.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ is launching Five Calls to Action to address today¡¯s record-high humanitarian needs as leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and UK prepare to meet ¨C ending conflict is high on the agenda.
1. Commit to political solutions to end conflicts now ¨C including the immediate reopening of all Black Sea ports
2. Ensure trade is open to deliver grains, oil and fuel
3. Support and join global and regional initiatives to combat global hunger and food insecurity
4. Fill Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s current funding gap to ensure that today¡¯s crises do not multiply or increase the number of people facing hunger around the globe
5. Invest in strategic development solutions that build resilient communities and foster climate actions, social protection, and sustainable food systems, allowing humanitarian and development organisations to change lives over the long term. In this way, we will set the world on a path towards broader stability and peace.
As the emergency operation in Ukraine moved into high gear today, the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) expressed deep concern about the waning ability of families in embattled areas to find food and also warned that the crisis could have consequences well beyond Ukraine¡¯s borders.
More than half of the population are facing acute hunger and 3.2 million children are suffering from malnutrition. Humanitarian needs have tripled, and will continue to rise as the bitter winter sets in pushing communities to the limit.
Job losses, lack of cash and soaring prices are creating a new class of hungry in Afghanistan, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has warned today. For the first time, urban residents are suffering from food insecurity at similar rates to rural communities, which have been ravaged by drought twice in the past three years.
the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), operated by Â鶹ÊÓƵ on behalf of the humanitarian community, has resumed flights to Kabul, enabling humanitarian workers to reach Afghans.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ is due to run out of food stocks of wheat flour as early as October and requires immediate upfront funds to support the millions of people depending on Â鶹ÊÓƵ to deliver food.
Syrians today face an unprecedented hunger crisis as the prices of basic foods reach levels unseen even at the height of the nine-year conflict and millions of people are pushed deeper into poverty the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ says, on the eve of a donors pledging conference for Syria.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ estimates that 9.3 million Syrians are now food insecure ¨C with an increase of 1.4 million in the last six months alone.
A toxic cocktail of conflict, economic standstill, the freefall of the Lebanese economy - which is a vital bridge to Syria¡¯s - and COVID-19 lockdown measures, has pushed food prices more than 200% higher in less than a year.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ urgently requires US$200 million to continue to provide food assistance in Syria until the end of the year. Unless new funding is available by August, Â鶹ÊÓƵ will be forced to drastically cut rations as well as the number of people reached with food as of October 2020.
