Supercharged hunger crisis could cause mass child starvation, as conflict cripples Europe’s ‘breadbasket’: World Vision
Increasing costs of fuel, fertiliser and wheat, driven by shortages and sanctions from the war in
Ukraine, are “supercharging” an unprecedented global hunger crisis, creating the potential for mass
starvation, according to World Vision CEO Daniel Wordsworth.
World Vision today announced a new 18-month Global Hunger Response in at least 24 countries across hunger hotspots where food insecurity is at its worst.
“Millions of children are enduring this heart-breaking hunger crisis, driven by a deadly
combination of conflict, climate change and Covid-19,” Daniel said.
“The war in Ukraine has pushed the globe into a state of heightened instability not seen since the
end of World War II,” he said.
“If we’ve learned anything in the 21st century, it’s that how we show up as leaders actually
matters. If you haven’t learnt that, then you’re asleep at the wheel.”
“Our latest predictions show that 45 million people in 43 countries are now at risk of famine,
which is basically a population the same size as Ukraine.”
“The scale of need is so large that this is only the second time in its history that World Vision
has launched a global response of this nature – our Covid-19 pandemic response being the first.”
World Vision is asking Australia’s political leaders to join us and help #fightfamine by committing
to a $150m famine prevention package focused on children.
“The most immediate task at hand is to join forces with the US, UK and other G7 governments in
providing emergency food aid to children and families in countries on the brink of famine in Africa
and the Middle East,” Daniel said.
“This is now even more urgent, given the conflict in Ukraine – ‘Europe’s breadbasket’ – is now
leading to food price spikes,” he said.
Countries on highest alert are those where food security, as determined by Integrated Food Security
Phase Classification, is at its worst – IPC 4 (Emergency) and IPC 5 (Catastrophe/Famine).
“World Vision is uniquely positioned to respond due to its enormous operational presence, its
expertise and world-leading cash, food and nutrition programs, as well as being the World Food
Programmes’ largest food delivery partner,” Daniel said.
