Save the Children responds to Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement of $250M for the hunger crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, June 23, 2022 – Today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced $250M in new funds to respond to the escalating global hunger crisis with funding for the humanitarian response in sub-Saharan Africa. Danny Glenwright, President and CEO of Save the Children Canada had the following response:

“As the hunger crisis is worsening around the world to catastrophic levels, Canada’s commitment will allow the international humanitarian community to scale up in many of the hardest hit countries – saving the lives of children and families.

Humanitarian organizations have been pushing Canada for a $600M commitment to respond to the urgent needs as well as put in place measures to prevent future crises. Today’s funding will begin to support the urgent measures critical to saving lives. Going forward, we are looking to Canada for a continued response in the coming months as this crisis evolves, and support for preventative measures to avert future crises.

While more than 50% of global humanitarian crises are predictable, tragically only 1% of funding is allocated to preparedness and early action. This is completely illogical and not reflective of the current world we live in where climate change is exacerbating human suffering on an unprecedented scale.

Droughts, floods, heatwaves, wildfires and hurricanes are claiming the lives of children every day, disrupting livelihoods and education, and forcing millions of children and families to flee their homes and communities in search of safety, food, water and essential health services.

As Prime Minister Trudeau heads to the G7 Leaders Summit in Germany this weekend, he has a critical role to play as a global leader in calling on other G7 countries to make similar commitments in response to this crisis that has rapidly spiraled out of control.

Up to 283 million people across 81 countries could be acutely food insecure or at high risk this year as a perfect storm of climate, conflict and Covid has resulted in crop failures, food shortages, skyrocketing prices on basic staples, along with inequality and economic system collapse.

Save the Children has identified a staggering 21 priority countries where children’s lives are in danger due to famine risk. Twenty-one countries where children do not have enough food to survive. The devastating combination of climate change, conflict and economic drivers has created an untenable situation where millions of lives may be lost.

The impacts of season after season of drought in some areas and flooding in others have been compounded by the Ukraine conflict. The crisis in Ukraine is having knock-on effects that are driving the prices of basic staples sky high. The Ukraine flag is meant to symbolize a vast blue sky over a field of wheat, celebrating the country’s status as the world’s fifth largest exporter of wheat—a staple grain for millions of people.

Children from Ethiopia to Yemen, Syria to Afghanistan, and Somalia to Kenya need urgent action now. Their lives are at stake in what can only be described as a global catastrophe.”

By region

East and Southern Africa—One of the worst droughts in a generation is currently unfolding in the Horn of Africa. In Somalia alone, around 1.4 million children face acute malnutrition through the end of this year, with around a quarter of them, or 330,000 children, facing severe acute malnutrition.

West and Central Africa—West Africa is facing its worst food crisis in a decade, with 27 million people at risk of going hungry. This number could rise to 38 million this June unless urgent action is taken. This situation is unprecedented in terms of the scale of the increase it represents.

Middle East—The knock-on effect of the Ukraine crisis is adding further strain to import-dependent countries in the Middle East. The cost of a basic food basket – the minimum food needs per family per month – registered an annual increase of 351% in Lebanon, the highest in the region. It was followed by Syria, with a 97% rise, and Yemen with 81% hike.

Latin America and Caribbean—Food insecurity affects 41% of the population in the Latin American region. According to the Regional Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security 2021, hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean is at its highest point since 2000.

Asia—Data for many countries across Asia is lacking, making it difficult to estimate the numbers in need across Asia. However, it is clear that Afghanistan’s protracted food crisis has deepened and widened with a record high of nearly 23 million people experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity by the end of May 2022, due to a devastating combination of drought, conflict and economic collapse.

ENDS