Hunger in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua has increased almost fourfold over the past two years - from 2.2 million people in 2018 to close to 8 million people in 2021 – a result of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and years of extreme climate events. Of this figure, 1.7 million people are in the ‘Emergency’ category of food insecurity and require urgent food assistance.
Market prices in Timor-Leste for cereals and non-cereal items have remained steady or slightly decreased since September. This observation is consistent with the FAO food price index (FFPI) of 135.9 captured in October, a figure virtually unchanged from September.
“We’re providing mainly hot meals, ready-to-eat food rations and family food packages -- things that require no cooking facilities and can be consumed immediately,” said WFP Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Corinne Fleischer.
SANTIAGO, Chile. The new United Nations report Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2022 finds that 22.5% of the Latin America and the Caribbean population cannot afford a healthy diet. In the Caribbean this figure reaches 52%; in Mesoamerica, 27.8%; and in South America, 18.4%.
The publication reports that 131.3 million people in the region could not afford a healthy diet in 2020.
Good news comes with a catch in Haiti. Of course, it’s good news that the 19,200 people who faced ‘famine-like’ conditions in October no longer do. This was against the odds, with the World Food Programme (WFP) working with its implementing partners to reel people back from the brink, gaining access to Cité Soleil.
Hunger levels remain extremely worrying however.
“Considering the level of destruction and setbacks faced by those affected, we expect this to be a long and slow recovery,” said Miguel Barreto, WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The impact of this conflict spans three countries – Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad - and has created the world’s largest displacement crisis. Almost a year into the war and we’re seeing no signs that the number of families fleeing across borders will slow.
Breaking: Read new IPC report on Sudan here
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World Food Programme teams are working around the clock to meet rising hunger needs across Sudan, including civilians trapped in El Fasher and people displaced from North Darfur’s besieged capital.