Head of the World Food Program (WFP) David Beasley said that the risk of famine due to the coronavirus pandemic might reach 'biblical proportions.'

Beasley noted that around $5bn would be needed to eliminate the pandemic consequences and support most countries.

«TASS reports, citing Beasley, that all available information, including WFP outlook of the 80% growth in the number of people faced with food shortage - from $140 million before the pandemic to $270 million already by the end of the year - indicate a real disaster. He added that the world is at risk of a famine of 'biblical proportions.'

According to Beasley, world famine is already sky-high. So, if countries do not act immediately, many will die, children will suffer the consequences of malnutrition for years to come, and the entire world will be thrown back, having lost all the gains in the fight against hunger of the last decade.

He added that the cost of inaction would be incredibly high, while stressing the need to act quickly and wisely, striking a balance between immediate emergency assistance and recovery, calculated for the long term.

The WFP chief noted that, according to forecasts, the number of starving people would increase by 269% in Latin America, 135% in East and Central Asia, and by up to 90% in South Africa.

WFP's mission is to provide food to 138 million people in 2020, the largest humanitarian operation in history. And this unprecedented crisis requires an incredible amount of money - WFP needs $4.9 billion over the next six months to continue its humanitarian activity in 83 countries. In many of these countries, WFP is the only hope for survival, explained David Beasley.

He added that the pandemic would cause a surge in migration and exacerbate social tensions, and the problem of famine could affect even those countries that had not previously faced it. NEWS.ru reported earlier that the WHO urged countries not to reimpose quarantine due to COVID-19.

Source: NEWS.RU