The number of people facing severe food insecurity worldwide has more than doubled to 345 million since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts and climate change, announced World Food Program (WFP).

Prior to the pandemic crisis, 135 million people worldwide suffered from hunger, she said. Corinne Fleischer, WFP Regional Director. Since then, this number has increased dramatically and is expected to rise even more due to climate change and wars.

The impact of environmental issues is another destabilizing factor that can lead to food shortages, conflicts and mass migration.

“People can’t afford it,” Fleischer said.

“We are seeing a tenfold increase in the number of displaced people worldwide due to climate change and conflict, and of course they are interconnected. And that is why we are really concerned about the combined impact of Covid-19, climate change and the war in Ukraine,” he said.

AT Middle East and North Africawar in Ukraine had a huge impact, Fleischer continued, explaining that the region is dependent on food imports. “Yemen imports 90% of its food needs. And 30% of them are from the Black Sea countries,” he recalled.

WFP supports 13 million out of 16 million people who are in need of food assistance, but the assistance she provides covers only half of a person’s daily needs due to lack of funds. The cost has increased by 45% on average since the pandemic.

Iraqin turn, it takes approx. 5.2 million tons of wheatbut produces only 2.3 million tons.

The deficit must be covered by imports, which are expensive. Despite government support, severe drought and water shortages are endangering the well-being of smallholders across Iraq, Fleischer concluded.