n the past year, an additional 20 million people have been pushed into acute hunger due to the impact of COVD-19. Now the war in Ukraine is threatening to increase global food insecurity even further, especially for women. Women and girls represent 60% of undernourished people in the world, so when food insecurity increases, women and girls are often the first to go without. Neither COVD-19 nor the war in Ukraine are coming to an end anytime soon, increasing the number of women impacted by hunger and the number of young girls who grow up undernourished.
Ukraine is the breadbasket of the world. Not only do core crops like wheat and corn come from Ukraine but Russia is the top producer of other materials needed for food production like fertilizer. Together the two countries account for nearly 30% of global wheat exports, almost 20% of corn exports, and more than 80% of the world supply of sunflower oil. Even if the war ends tomorrow, impacts on the global food supply chain will linger for years while Ukraine rebuilds and Russia suffers the economic consequences of starting an unprovoked and unjust war.
This war, a prolonged global health crisis, and other factors like climate change mean that food insecurity is at an all-time high. Food insecurity will be felt by everyone but particularly for women who often go without in order to feed their children, who come last when food is distributed in a household, and who are suffering most in ‘hunger hotspot’ countries. Women living in these hunger hotspot countries will be most impacted by food insecurity the world is currently facing. In 2020 and 2021, Ukraine was the second largest producer of wheat for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), a vitally important humanitarian organization responsible for providing food in emergency situations and improving food insecurity globally. Specifically, WFP provides emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, countries where women experience greater levels of poverty and gender inequality. If the WFP is unable to meet the demand for food distribution in many of these countries, women will slip further into poverty, hunger, and food insecurity.
The hunger and food insecurity the world faces currently due to the war in Ukraine will have consequences that will last generations. Not only does food insecurity impact a woman’s life today, but it also impacts her at every stage of her life. Children born to malnourished women are more likely to face cognitive issues, have lower resistance to infection, and suffer from a higher risk of death and disease. During adolescence, girls are at greater risk of undernourishment, because at this time they are growing faster than any other stage of life. Additionally, should an undernourished adolescent girl become pregnant, she is at greater risk for complications that could result in her death. In adulthood, a lifetime of undernourishment and hunger can impact her ability to work, pushing her further into poverty.
Food insecurity and hunger is also going to be a major issue for the women of Ukraine. Conflict is a primary driver of hunger and the conflict in Ukraine is devastating. Specifically, there are reports of hunger being used as a weapon of war by Russian forces who have destroyed food depots and have left no food behind for Ukrainian citizens. David Beasley, Executive Director of WFP says he is not confident the organization can keep the supply line of food open. Food is scarce in Ukraine right now and when food is scarce, women are the first to go without.
Hunger isn’t a new problem. Hunger and food insecurity have existed as long as poverty and inequality have existed. The war in Ukraine and the long-lasting impacts it will have on the global food supply chain are just additional crises that must be overcome to nourish the nearly 811 million people worldwide who go to bed hungry every night. In overcoming this current food security challenge, it should be remembered that while hunger affects all people, it does not do so equally. Women are hungrier, so women need to be at the center of the solution.
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People Are Hungry, and Women Are Hungrier
Photo via Pixabay.
April 26, 2022
Millions of people were pushed into acute hunger last year by the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine will only make things worse - for years to come. When people are hungry, women usually go hungrier, so they must be at the center of the solution, writes DC correspondent Coby Jones.
I
n the past year, an additional 20 million people have been pushed into acute hunger due to the impact of COVD-19. Now the war in Ukraine is threatening to increase global food insecurity even further, especially for women. Women and girls represent 60% of undernourished people in the world, so when food insecurity increases, women and girls are often the first to go without. Neither COVD-19 nor the war in Ukraine are coming to an end anytime soon, increasing the number of women impacted by hunger and the number of young girls who grow up undernourished.
Ukraine is the breadbasket of the world. Not only do core crops like wheat and corn come from Ukraine but Russia is the top producer of other materials needed for food production like fertilizer. Together the two countries account for nearly 30% of global wheat exports, almost 20% of corn exports, and more than 80% of the world supply of sunflower oil. Even if the war ends tomorrow, impacts on the global food supply chain will linger for years while Ukraine rebuilds and Russia suffers the economic consequences of starting an unprovoked and unjust war.
This war, a prolonged global health crisis, and other factors like climate change mean that food insecurity is at an all-time high. Food insecurity will be felt by everyone but particularly for women who often go without in order to feed their children, who come last when food is distributed in a household, and who are suffering most in ‘hunger hotspot’ countries. Women living in these hunger hotspot countries will be most impacted by food insecurity the world is currently facing. In 2020 and 2021, Ukraine was the second largest producer of wheat for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), a vitally important humanitarian organization responsible for providing food in emergency situations and improving food insecurity globally. Specifically, WFP provides emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, countries where women experience greater levels of poverty and gender inequality. If the WFP is unable to meet the demand for food distribution in many of these countries, women will slip further into poverty, hunger, and food insecurity.
The hunger and food insecurity the world faces currently due to the war in Ukraine will have consequences that will last generations. Not only does food insecurity impact a woman’s life today, but it also impacts her at every stage of her life. Children born to malnourished women are more likely to face cognitive issues, have lower resistance to infection, and suffer from a higher risk of death and disease. During adolescence, girls are at greater risk of undernourishment, because at this time they are growing faster than any other stage of life. Additionally, should an undernourished adolescent girl become pregnant, she is at greater risk for complications that could result in her death. In adulthood, a lifetime of undernourishment and hunger can impact her ability to work, pushing her further into poverty.
Food insecurity and hunger is also going to be a major issue for the women of Ukraine. Conflict is a primary driver of hunger and the conflict in Ukraine is devastating. Specifically, there are reports of hunger being used as a weapon of war by Russian forces who have destroyed food depots and have left no food behind for Ukrainian citizens. David Beasley, Executive Director of WFP says he is not confident the organization can keep the supply line of food open. Food is scarce in Ukraine right now and when food is scarce, women are the first to go without.
Hunger isn’t a new problem. Hunger and food insecurity have existed as long as poverty and inequality have existed. The war in Ukraine and the long-lasting impacts it will have on the global food supply chain are just additional crises that must be overcome to nourish the nearly 811 million people worldwide who go to bed hungry every night. In overcoming this current food security challenge, it should be remembered that while hunger affects all people, it does not do so equally. Women are hungrier, so women need to be at the center of the solution.
