Climate dhange and hunger: A growing global crisis ko

The World Food Program (WFP) has warned that climate change is worsening hunger worldwide, and if countries do not take swift action, they will face severe consequences, including widespread hunger and malnutrition.

In its recent report titled “Hunger and Climate Change,” WFP highlights that by 2020, between 75 million and 250 million people could be impacted by climate-related events, such as heavy rainfall causing floods and intense heat leading to desertification.

Sub-Saharan African countries will be particularly affected, as WFP notes that in some rain-dependent agricultural regions, crop yields could drop by 50%.

The report shows that flooding and soil erosion caused by excessive rainfall in Southern and Eastern Africa have already led to water shortages, hampering agricultural production.

If no robust measures are taken to combat climate change, it could lead to hunger, stunted growth in children, and hinder infrastructure development in affected countries.

The report predicts that by 2050, rice, wheat, and maize production could decrease by 14.22%, and food supplies could shrink by 5%.

This reduction will lower daily caloric intake by 21%, with more than 10 million children at risk of malnutrition.

Steps Can Be Taken to Mitigate These Impacts

WFP notes that some countries are already implementing policies to prevent and tackle the effects of climate change. These measures include land preservation, tree planting, constructing terraces to prevent soil erosion, and creating water storage systems to assist farmers during droughts.

WFP points to examples from countries like Rwanda, where farmers are supported in building terraces and planting trees to stabilize the land. Similar efforts are underway in Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Bangladesh, where WFP collaborates with governments to combat the effects of climate change.