Guterres foresees 'real risk' of multiple famines in 2022
As time runs short to tackle global food security, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of multiple famines in 2022.
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
In a video message to the international ministerial conference on global food security in Berlin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned, on Friday, that there is a “real risk" of multiple famines in 2022, adding that next year can be even worse.
"There is a clear risk that multiple famines will be declared in 2022 and 2023 could be even worse," he said.
There is a real risk that multiple famines will be declared this year - and 2023 could be even worse.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 24, 2022
We need strong political and private sector leadership for a coordinated multilateral response.
We cannot accept mass hunger and starvation in the 21st century.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Guterres has cautioned that all harvests in Africa, Asia, and America will be affected.
"Humanitarian support is essential but not enough, it is not just a food crisis, it requires a coordinated multilateral approach with multidimensional solutions," the UN chief added.
World leaders and international organizations have expressed concern about an impending and large-scale food crisis, citing disruptions in supply chains, rising prices, and crop production delays in one of the world's most productive regions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
It is worth mentioning that Ukraine and Russia are estimated to account for 30% of global wheat exports, 20% of maize exports, and 76% of sunflower exports.
Russia has been accused by Western countries of obstructing grain shipments in Black Sea ports. Moscow asserts that Ukraine mined the ports, making shipments impossible.
Meanwhile, Russia seeks to establish a second grain market to support economically unstable countries and help avoid a humanitarian crisis.
