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Mutually reinforcing factors led to soaring food insecurity in 2020: 2021 Global Report on Food Crises Released

The number of people around the world facing severe food insecurity skyrocketed by 20 million in 2020, according to the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises, released today. Acute food insecurity now affects at least 155 million people across 55 countries/territories, with some regions facing famine-level hunger. In light of these soaring numbers, the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger by 2030 seems to have gotten further from reach.

Two women in Lagos, Nigeria carry food and supplies past signs about COVID-19 ∙
Source:
World Bank blogs

How should we measure food security during crises? The case of Nigeria

High-frequency monitoring of access to food has become especially important during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Food access in Nigeria, and across the globe, has significantly worsened since the start of the pandemic due to significant disruptions to food supply chains and widespread loss of income.  Poor access to food can have both short- and long-term impacts on health and wellbeing and is thus an important targeting criteria.

Yemen: Acute Malnutrition January - July 2020 and Projection for August - December 2020

http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1152903/?iso3=YEM
Jan 1st, 2020
Over half a million cases of children aged 0 to 59 months, and more than a quarter of a million cases of pregnant and lactating women, are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition during the course of 2020. Out of the 19 zones included in the IPC Acute Malnutrition (IPC AMN) analysis, two zones are classified in Critical (IPC AMN Phase 4), eight in Serious (IPC AMN Phase 3) and the remaining zones in Alert (IPC AMN Phase 2) during the current period of January July 2020. The situation is expected to deteriorate further during the projection period of August – December 2020. A total of seven zones will likely move into a higher Phase, with 15 of the 19 zones in IPC AMN Phase 3 or IPC AMN Phase 4.

Guatemala: Acute Food Insecurity Situation August - October 2020 and Projection for November 2020 - March 2021

http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1152911/?iso3=GTM
Aug 1st, 2020
From August to October 2020, about 3.7 million people were facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), and therefore, required urgent action. This figure will likely decrease to 2.7 million people between November 2020 and March 2021. Until October 2020, the departments classified as being in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) were: Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Huehuetenango, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Quetzaltenango, Quiché, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán and Zacapa. The economic effects of the COVID-19 mitigation measures have been counteracted by state and private humanitarian aid, preventing a greater severity of acute food insecurity in most departments.

GIEWS Crop Prospects and Food Situation - No 2 on July 2020

http://www.fao.org/3/ca9803en/CA9803EN.pdf
Jul 1st, 2020
FAO assesses that globally 44 countries, of which 34 are in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are causing wide‑ranging and severe negative impacts on food security, particularly through the loss of income. Conflicts and weather shocks remain critical factors that underpin the current high levels of severe food insecurity.

GIEW Crop Prospects and Food Situation - No 1 on March 2020

http://www.fao.org/3/ca8032en/CA8032EN.pdf
Mar 1st, 2020
FAO assesses that globally 44 countries, of which 34 are in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Agricultural droughts have aggravated food insecurity conditions, due to reduced harvests that also caused price hikes. Conflict driven crises continued to be the primary cause of the high levels of severe food insecurity.

Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulletin, September 2020

http://www.fao.org/3/cb0974en/cb0974en.pdf
Sep 1st, 2020
nternational prices of cereals were generally firm in August. Wheat prices increased in response to low production prospects in Europe and stronger buying interest. International prices of rice also increased, underpinned by seasonally tight export availabilities and increasing African demand. Maize price quotations were mixed, with the benchmark US maize values down from the previous month but those from South America went up.

Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulletin, October 2020

http://www.fao.org/3/cb1514en/cb1514en.pdf
Oct 1st, 2020
International grain prices registered strong increases in September on production concerns and diminishing inventories, while international rice prices fell across the board amid slowdown in export demand and sales as well as the approaching main harvests in the Northern Hemisphere.

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