World Staring at 'Food Crisis' due to Coronavirus, UN, WHO & WTO Warn

New Delhi, April 2, 2020:

The United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have signaled at a possible food crisis across the world in the wake of Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.

The heads of WHO, WTO and UN have warned of a potential worldwide food shortage if the current situation of the pandemic is not brought under control.

Trade has been severely hit due to the lockdowns in several countries. Supply chains have also been affected due to the fear of getting infected with the virus.

A joint statement of the Heads of the three world organisations read, "Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market."

ALSO READ: UP Police Lodges FIR against The Wire for Remarks against Adityanath, Editor Calls it Attack on Press Freedom

The joint text signed by Qu Dongyu, head of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Roberto Azevedo, Director of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) further read, "In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdowns, every effort must be made to ensure that trade flows as freely as possible, specially to avoid food shortage(s)."

It added, "When acting to protect the health and well-being of their citizens, countries should ensure that any trade-related measures do not disrupt the food supply chain."

The three leaders noted that such disruptions including hampering the movement of agricultural and food industry workers and extending border delays for food containers, result in the spoilage of perishables and increasing food waste.

ALSO READ: Padma Shri Recipient and Sikh Spiritual Singer Nirmal Singh Dies of COVID-19

According to the UN, WTO and WHO leader, closing borders has exposed just how much certain countries are dependent upon foreign workers to bring in crops.

The three world organisations also stressed on the need to protect employees engaged in food production, processing and distribution, both for their own health and that of others, as well as to maintain food supply chains. "It is at times like these that more, not less, international cooperation is essential," they said, adding that "We must ensure that our response to COVID-19 does not unintentionally create unwarranted shortages of essential items and exacerbate hunger and malnutrition."

It may be mentioned here that lockdowns have resulted in lesser movements and some places have even banned the entry and exit of food supply carriers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ALSO READ: Wipro & Ajiz Premji Foundation Pledge Rs 1,125 Crore to Help India Tackle COVID-19 Crisis

India for instance has only allowed the essential services to function and within the country the States have not banned but restricted movements. As coronavirus cases rise in India (2,032 presently), several parts of India have reported fresh cases -- 34 new cases were reported on Thursday with the Northeastern part seeing a spike - 24 new cases.

The Government of India as well that of the States have announced relief package for the ones living hand to mouth and authorities at the local level are making efforts to ensure that the packages get to the needy.

Meanwhile, the number of cases of the new coronavirus or COVID-19 across the world have risen to 937,167, with 47,267 cases reported so far. 195,143 people have recovered so far.

Of the 694,757 cases which are active, 35,772 (or 5%) are said to be in critical condition. In the United States, 215,344 people have been infected so far (5,112 have died).

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.