WFP warns of hunger risk due to disruptions on sea routes — The National
Acting head of the UN World Food Programme Carl Skau warned in New York, United States, that disruptions on three key maritime routes are driving up global food and energy prices and could lead to hunger for millions more people. He said this in an interview with The National, as world leaders gather in the city for the week of the UN General Assembly.
Three critical routes
According to Skau, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Black Sea are of greatest concern. Conflicts and rising tensions in these areas are disrupting maritime trade, increasing the cost of energy resources and food worldwide.
In his assessment, the consequences are felt especially strongly in vulnerable countries, where households already spend a significant share of their income on food. Skau noted that a global price shock would mean an increase in the number of people suffering from hunger.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
The situation in Yemen
Skau named Yemen as one of the places where the consequences of escalation are most palpable: tens of thousands of people there have recently been displaced. According to the WFP, more than 18 million residents of the country, or about half of its population, are facing acute food shortages.
About 2.2 million children under the age of five in Yemen have acute malnutrition, including half a million with its severe form, the most life-threatening. The country imports about 90% of its food, so disruptions in trade, supply chains and market operations particularly affect its population.
According to the publication, recent fighting has enabled Houthi rebels to expand control along Yemen's western coast and establish control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. Skau called on states to step up diplomatic efforts to end conflicts, ensure humanitarian access and protect humanitarian workers.
