Global hunger ‘could double to 265mn,’ UN’s World Food Program warns

The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of Covid-19, the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) warned on Tuesday.

The impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category, Reuters said, citing the statement.

“Covid-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the WFP, said in Geneva.