John Andrea Kunamba (middle) and his family harvesting rice in Kigugu Village, Mvomero, Tanzania. Photo by: Hans Ngoteya / ActionAid
Coronavirus has been called “the great equalizer,” but that could not be further from reality. The COVID-19 crisis is exposing growing inequalities within and between countries. Unless governments act swiftly, what started as a health crisis will soon turn into a food crisis.
Global food security trends were alarming even before the pandemic threw the world into chaos. After decades of decline, global hunger continues to rise for the third consecutive year due to climate disasters, conflicts, and economic downturns. More than 820 million people suffer from hunger, and if we also consider people affected by moderate levels of food insecurity, it is estimated that over 2 billion people do not have regular access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food, including 8% of the population in North America and Europe. Just five years after the international community committed to eradicate hunger by 2030 — via Sustainable Development Goal 2 — we are already off track and risk failing completely. Continue reading
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