New York briefing on global food crises makes strong call for unified action addressing root causes

The 2019 Global Report on Food Crises ‘ clearly underscore the need for simultaneous action across the humanitarian– development nexus, along with investments in conflict prevention and sustaining peace, said Dominique Burgeon, FAO's Director of Emergencies and Resilience Strategic Programme Leader, at the New York launch of and the briefing on the 2019 Global Report on Food Crises.

The 2019 Global Report on Food Crises finds again that in 2018 conflict and insecurity remained the key driver of food insecurity, followed by climate and natural disasters and economic turbulence.  Of the 113m people experiencing acute food insecurity, 74 million people were located in 21 countries affected by conflict. Climate shocks and natural disasters pushed another 29 million people into acute food insecurity, and economic shocks, often accentuated by conflict and climate shocks, were the primary driver of food insecurity  for 10.2 m people .  over half of the global total of acutely food insecure people estimated by the GRFC 2019 were in Africa. while nearly two-thirds of those facing acute hunger are in just 8 countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. 

Jointly organized by the Permanent Missions of Sweden and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP), the event examined the key findings of the latest Global Report on Food Crises in the context of how the international community could reduce hunger and food insecurity in conflict settings. It also sought to discuss concrete steps, including how early warning should trigger early action, and the necessity to look beyond the humanitarian and development divide to reduce food insecurity and hunger in a sustainable way that ensures progress for those left furthest behind.

The briefing was led by Burgeon and Arif Husain, WFP Chief Economist and Head of Food Security Analysis Service, featuring the latest estimates of severe hunger and an analysis of countries chronically vulnerable to food crisis.

According to the Report, in addition to the 113 million people in 53 countries who experienced acute food insecurity in 2018,  143 million people in a subset of 42 countries were found to be living in stressed conditions on the cusp of acute hunger.

Looking ahead, the Report forecasts that conflict and insecurity will remain the primary causes of food insecurity and contribute to persisting or increasing displacement. Extreme climate events and economic instability are also expected to continue their adverse impacts on food security.

Against this troubling situation, the Report calls for strengthened cooperation that links together prevention, preparedness and response to address urgent humanitarian needs and root causes. It further highlights the need for a unified approach and action across the humanitarian and development dimensions of food crises, and for more investment in conflict mitigation and sustainable peace.

The Global Report is produced each year by the Global Network Against Food Crises, which consists of 15 international humanitarian and development partners.