Pandemic fallout: UN warns the world to act now to avert COVID-19 global food emergency

“Our food systems are failing, and the COVID-19 pandemic is making things worse,” he said. The UN policy brief lays out three main recommendations geared towards saving lives and livelihoods, which also support the transition to a greener future.

First, countries should designate food and nutrition services as essential, while also implementing protections for those who work in the sector. “It means preserving critical humanitarian food, livelihood and nutrition assistance to vulnerable groups”, the Secretary-General continued, “and it means positioning food in food-crisis countries to reinforce and scale up social protection systems.” Authorities are also urged to scale up support for food processing, transport and local markets, and to ensure food systems can continue to function by keeping trade corridors open. Mr. Guterres added that relief and stimulus packages must reach the most vulnerable, including small-scale food producers and rural businesses.

The UN chief underlined the need to strengthen social protection systems for nutrition, which includes supporting the millions of children worldwide currently missing out on school feeding programs. “Countries need to safeguard access to safe, nutritious foods, particularly for young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older people and other at-risk groups. And they need to adapt and expand social protection schemes to benefit nutritionally at-risk groups”, he said. –UN News