Geneva (Switzerland), June 14 (EFE)- Global inflation of core producers, aggravated by the war in Ukraine, threatens to leave 14 million people in Latin America in a state of food insecurity, almost 50% more than the current figure United Nations World Food Program (WFP) ) as announced on Tuesday.
As Lola Castro, director of the agency’s regional arm, points out, there are currently 9.7 million people in this situation in the region, according to WFP, which seeks to minimize food shortages through imports from producers in countries like Argentina and Mexico. , at a press conference.
The World Food Program representative stated that the increase in food prices has increased sevenfold in the region due to the rising costs of sea and air transportation, which has especially affected Caribbean island countries.
Casto cited problems with food imports in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, where food inflation reached 26%.
“The region has experienced multiple crises due to climate change and the pandemic, which has placed 17.7 million people in a state of food insecurity. By the end of 2021, this number had dropped to 8.3 million, but Latin America was hit hard once again by the Ukraine crisis,” Castro explained.
WFP director said that although Russia and Ukraine do not export large quantities of grains and other foodstuffs to Latin America, the increase in overall prices in the global market has seriously affected many countries in the region.
Castro reassured that the “consequences” of the food crisis were already happening, with increased migration flows from the south to the north of the continent, including dangerous routes such as the crossing of the Darien River that separates South America from Panama. .
“This route was crossed by 5,000 people in 2020, but by 2021 that number has risen to 151,000. It’s a roadless route where people have to walk for ten days in the woods, many die, and is one of the most dangerous in the world”, guaranteed Castro.
“If we don’t do something, we will see an increase in this mass migration. We must respond immediately and governments and communities must seek solutions,” said WFP Latin America director.
source: Noticias
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