World risks 'biblical' famines because of pandemic - UN
The world reaches threat of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN has warned.
David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was had a need to avoid a catastrophe.
A written report estimates that the quantity experiencing hunger could go from 135 million to a lot more than 250 million.
Those most at risk are in 10 countries influenced by conflict, economical crisis and climate change, the WFP says.
The fourth twelve-monthly Global Report on Food Crises highlights Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti.
In South Sudan, 61% of the population was damaged by food crisis this past year, the report says.
Even prior to the pandemic hit, parts of East Africa and South Asia were already facing extreme food shortages due to drought and the worst locust infestations for many years.
Addressing the UN Security Council throughout a video conference, Mr Beasley said the world had to "act wisely and act fast".
"We're able to be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a brief few months," he said. "The simple truth is we don't have time on our side."
In a proactive approach, he added: "I really do believe that with this expertise and our partnerships, we are able to gather the teams and the programmes essential to make certain the Covid-19 pandemic does not turn into a human and food crisis catastrophe."
The WFP's senior economist, Arif Husain, said the economical impact of the pandemic was potentially catastrophic for millions "who already are hanging by a thread".
"This is a hammer blow for millions more who can only just eat if indeed they earn a wage," he said in a statement.
"Lockdowns and global economical recession have already decimated their nest eggs. It only takes yet another shock - like Covid-19 - to push them over the edge. We should collectively act now to mitigate the impact of the global catastrophe."
Earlier this month, this WFP said it had been set to halve aid to elements of war-torn Yemen handled by Houthi rebels because of a funding crisis.
It said some donors had stopped their aid over concerns that deliveries were being obstructed by Houthi forces.
The WFP feeds more than 12 million Yemenis a month, 80% of whom are in areas controlled by Houthi forces.
Yemen confirmed its first case of Covid-19 earlier this month, with aid agencies warning that the condition could quickly overwhelm the country's weakened health systems.
