50 Million Threatened by Hunger in West Africa amid COVID-19

By Staff, Agencies

The Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] warned that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could increase the number of people at risk of a food insecurity and malnutrition from 17 million to 50 million people between June and August 2020.  

The organizations are: Action against Hunger, APESS, Care, Oxfam, RBM, ROPPA, Solidarités International and Save the Children. 

“Food workers are struggling to continue their activities and see their livelihoods threatened.  Measures must be taken to protect the most vulnerable and ensure food production, so that hunger and malnutrition are no longer a daily threat,” they cautioned. 

In the region’s main cities as well as in rural areas, despite Governments efforts, many communities are today facing difficulties in accessing food markets, with prices increasing quickly and many basic commodities becoming less available, the consequences of restrictive measures put in place, confinement or curfews, border closures and insecurity in certain areas.