And thank you for joining us here at this press conference at the UN office at Geneva
on the launch of the Global Report on Food
Crises 2024 from the Global Network against Food Crises.
the global network I should mention is a multi stakeholder initiative
which is working to address the root causes of food crises
and promote sustainable solutions.
three guests, uh, Dominic
who is the director of the Food and
Agricultural Organisation liaison office here in Geneva.
Ismail, who is chief of self reliance and Economic Inclusion section
And my far left is, uh, Miss Courtney Blake,
senior humanitarian advisor for the US mission
here in Geneva. I should note that this press conference is under embargo.
There's a report that should have been shared with you.
The embargo will be lifted at 12 noon today, so please respect the embargo
before we start off with a brief opening remarks from our speakers.
I should also mention, uh, by the way,
we do have some experts here in the room from the European Union,
uh, from the World Bank and the World Food Programme,
as well as a colleague online from UNICEF.
Should you have specific questions pointed to them,
they would be happy to take the floor.
Otherwise, uh, the respondents will be here on the podium with me
before we start. I should mention there's a short video which I think is cued to play.
It's about 90 seconds. So
we'll show the video and then over to our colleagues for their opening remarks.
Thank you very much. OK, I'll turn the floor over to Dominic now for opening remarks.
thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, Rolando And, uh, good morning. Uh, everyone.
So I would like to start by saying that I'm delivering this intervention.
Uh, on behalf of our key partner on the
And, um who a RE we a RE presenting the room? Uh, virtually.
And I would like to share some key highlights of the global
on the global acute food insecurity and nutrition situation,
as presented in the report,
along with the concerted actions that our agencies
are committed to pursuing to fight food crises.
First, I would like to say that when we talk about acute food insecurity,
we are talking about anger so severe
that it poses an immediate threat to people's livelihoods and lives.
This is anger that threatens to slide into famine and cause a widespread death.
The report tells us that despite major efforts by the international community,
acute anger remained at unacceptable level in 2023.
As a matter of fact, more than
281 million people in 59 countries and territories
face levels of acute food insecurity that are classified
classification as crisis, emergency and catastrophe.
The proportion of people facing acute food insecurity remain persistently high,
and which is significantly exceeding pre covid levels.
You may want to know that when we launched the first report in
2017, the proportion which is today 22% was 11%
and the severity of food prices is also intensifying. In 2023
emergency levels of acute food insecurity, one step
million people, so level of emergency
emergency level of acute food insecurity,
one step before famine affected over 36 million people,
while the total population in
was more than four times higher than in 2016.
The report also tells us that 60% of Children experiencing acute malnutrition
live in the 10 countries facing the highest level of acute food insecurity.
and would be able to provide more details on
this issue of acute from acute food acute malnutrition.
The two biggest deteriorations recorded in 2023 were, as you would expect,
the end of the year. The Gaza Strip became
the most severe food crisis in our reporting history.
Conflict and insecurity, along with extreme weather events and economic shocks,
are the key drivers of food insecurity and nutrition crises,
as was shown in the video,
Just four months into the year, the situation is no less concerning with,
as you know, famine looming in the Gaza Strip
and people facing extreme anger in Sudan,
projection of catastrophic hunger in parts of south Sudan.
We are far from achieving SDG to zero anger,
so we need to rethink how we address food crises.
The report presents us with
the stark clarity that we cannot reverse the trends if we work in isolation,
we need to ensure that there is coherence and co ordination
between the various initiatives and actors to
break the cycle of stubbornly persistent acute anger
besides peace and prevention.
tackling persistent food crises requires urgent long term
national and international investment to transform the food system
and boost agricultural and rural development alongside
greater crisis preparedness and critical life saving assistance at scale
where people need it the most,
we need integrated solutions that go beyond humanitarian assistance,
ensuring access and working with
Finally, I would like to highlight
that humanitarian operations are desperately overstretched,
with many being forced to scale down and further cut support to the most vulnerable,
more equitable and effective global economic governance is
imperative and must be matched with government led plans
Thanks to Dominic. Now I'll turn to Mr Ishmael.
We are very glad to join you in the launch of this
global food crisis report,
and Dominique has highlighted the deteriorating
and the dire food insecurity situation
My comments will focus on the
correlation between displacement and food insecurity
and in the last record we have as
in 2023 we have a record level displacement globally, 114 million refugees and I
of the displaced persons are in. The 59 countries that are
the food crisis report. At the moment we see
an outflow, an increased outflow of displacement,
but also a protracted situation of displaced populations that persist.
This edition of the global report
has a spotlight highlighting the displacement context
in the food security situation,
and the report shows that
a strong correlation of high level of food insecurity and
malnutrition among the displaced communities.
It also shows a protective situation of refugees and
that are deteriorating and being exacerbated by the food insecurity.
Our monitoring shows strong evidence of
negative coping mechanisms
and other consequences because of food
insecurity among the displaced populations globally.
Our message is to really scale up
integrated response strategies that is joined up.
And the work that is being done by the Global Network Against Food Crisis and others
shows that this approach, in terms of a cross humanitarian development context,
is very important to move beyond, as you see
persistent and recurring food crisis into more long term solutions
that is supported by evidence,
an analysis that inform policies as well.
We also see support to host governments and
host communities in terms of development financing,
but also technical and other support
GRF that took place in December. And we had a very strong collaboration with WFP,
in terms of food security, food systems,
great deal of interest, in fact,
in terms of commitments and pledge to move the needle
forward in terms of long term solutions, resilience
for communities that are displaced that are facing food insecure situations.
So this will be our message in terms of the context,
and we will be happy to take some questions later on.
Thank you very much, Mr Smell. Uh, M Blake.
Um, as we've heard from the presentations in the video the numbers of people.
Uh, facing acute food insecurity worldwide continues to rise year on year.
And this is despite the significant investments,
uh, that have been made by a broad range of actors, um,
in efforts to combat hunger and fragility and reduce
the risk of famine and worsening food insecurity worldwide.
Um, in this landscape, uh, progress might feel elusive.
Um, but as the report underscores, there are things that we can be doing about it.
And as Dominique has highlighted, uh, the call is really to rethink,
and reorient how we're tackling this.
Um, from our perspective,
a key aspect of this is recognising that emergency food assistance alone cannot
abate the rising trend of food insecurity that we are facing today.
Um, with conflict remaining the biggest driver of food crises,
we need longer term approaches that foster collaboration
across peace, development and humanitarian efforts.
but approaches that also bring together a broad range
of sectors such as health protection and wash,
uh, and do so with a sense of urgency.
Um, and while we're doing that, um,
it's really important that we better leverage the knowledge,
reach influencing capacities of local actors.
Secondly, we need to engage a much broader pool of partners, uh,
to both prevent and respond
to crises, particularly the private sector.
Um, in response to the 2023 earthquakes, for example,
we saw private sector capacities and resources
quickly surpass the contributions of bilateral donors.
but private sector engagement can't just be limited
to resourcing and supporting otherwise critical responses.
The private sector has a fundamental role to play in building local resilience,
productive capabilities and preventing communities from reaching such severe
levels of food insecurity in the first place.
we need to better coordinate our efforts and take the
interventions that we know can and do work to scale.
we need to see further scale up of access to treatment of acute malnutrition,
um, and efforts that are also paired, uh,
with approaches to strengthen prevention of acute malnutrition.
That's why we've been working closely,
um, as US aid with UNICEF
both who play an important role
in providing this assistance to improve coordinating
better, incorporate prevention and treatment,
and reach those Children most in need with the right services when they need them.
um, from our perspective.
This is why the joined up work of the global network is so important.
Progress is possible, but no single actor can do this alone.
It will take collective action globally and most importantly, locally, to
translate the findings of the report and to change on the ground.
um, I would just like to acknowledge,
in particular the important role that our donor partner, the European Union,
has played in the global networks.
I'm hoping that we can pull in their perspective as we further our discussions.
Thank you all very much for those remarks. OK, we'll take questions now.
We start in the room, uh, in our first row here. Gabriela from Reuters.
good morning. Thank you for taking my question. Um,
the report says that weather extremes and conflict in Ethiopia and Sudan
could cause catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.
Um, to you in in this report. Thank you.
catastrophic. You know, when we are talking about this report,
basically, the big number we are coming with is 281 million, which we refer to,
which is, according to the I PC scale that goes from 1 to 5.
The population which is in I PC
crisis, emergency catastrophe,
catastrophe that can then potentially turn into famine.
Catastrophe is the phase five population in concrete terms.
What it means is that when a population is
falling from I PC two to IPC 345 is that
It means that they have to cut on the number of
meals on the quality of the meals and then going down,
get rid. They are losing all their assets
to actually procure meagre meals.
And so it means when you are talking of catastrophe situation,
it is at the level of the population
collapse of the livelihood
acute malnutrition and extremely important lack of food. So this is what it means,
you know, there are regular
discussions on is famine are not going to be declared.
I think what is very important to understand
is that when we are looking at
emergency level. So we are not declaring famine.
But there is already excess mortality
directly due to the shortage of food. But also to the
The fact that if you are not eating enough, if you are malnourished, etcetera
weak and therefore you catch all sorts of disease
and you can therefore die.
You know, the one thing I always remember is that
one of the largest massive famine we had was in 2011 in Somalia
when we actually declared famine,
the total number of casualties for that entire famine was about 260,000 people.
When we declared famine, it was already too late for about half of these people.
needs to be taken not on the number of people in catastrophe or in famine situations,
but on the total number of people in
emergency and crisis situation and with the type of assistance,
humanitarian assistance, but also longer term assistance.
colleagues. If either of you want to jump in at any point in time, just let me know.
Um OK, we'll take a question from I think we'll go to Jamil
Yes. Hi. Uh, I'm a journalist from Brazil. I have a A
number of questions. I'm sorry to
disappoint you. Uh, Roland,
have you done any calculation of how much you will need
at least this trend. I'm not saying eradicate. Even
if you have the number of of how much it would be needed to eradicate acute to hunger,
it would be good as well.
But any number that you would have in terms of investment, how much do you need?
we are five years from 2030
let's be realistic. Is it achievable? Still,
basically declare already
that it is not going to be achieved.
I don't see how, but anyway, I would like to hear from you
and and to Mrs Blake. What is your assessment about Israeli
regarding basically, uh, Food assistant. Thank you.
I wish to say we have a colleague from the bank. Also.
Perhaps if you want to come in, Maria
Well, I think we have to.
We have to. When it comes to eradicate, of course,
is to eradicate acute anger is a very big question.
humanitarian response plans that we see
really that have been sort of
increasing dramatically from when we started the report.
We are talking of some $20 billion of the total ask. We are now at about 56 billion
that is going normally to
to to food security in crisis context
the need is about 30 32% of the of the total of those amounts that are needed for the
But of course, we see that if there has been, for example, in 2022 a
good response at I think around 15 billion going to the food sector.
I mean, now we see that in 2023 and in 2024 it is significantly decreasing.
So it means on the one hand we need of course, you know
livelihood emergency assistance is critical and we see that it is decreasing.
But at the top of that, what is very concerning is that
the level of development assistance
that is going to food crisis context
food security in food crisis context is extremely low,
and I think it is in the range of 3%.
significantly significantly increased
when it comes to your question
on on the target of achieving SDG two.
It says that if we continue on the same on
the same track with all those drivers that we see
conflict, extreme weather events, economic downturns, it would be, of course,
extremely difficult to achieve.
And the estimate is that we will be around
600 million people in chronic food insecurity still in
So I don't know if my courage want
Yes, please. If you'd like to, uh, maybe
take the, uh for a seat there. Thank you.
If you can kindly introduce yourself and Natal thank you very much.
I'm the special representative of the World Bank to the UN and WTO in Geneva.
As Dominique mentioned, it's very difficult to calculate the amount,
another way to see it from our point of view.
Between April 22 and June 23 the World Bank has mobilised $45
billion including 22 billion in new lending to tackle food crisis.
This financing is expected to benefit 335 million people,
equivalent to approximately 44% of the number
of undernourished people around the world.
And more than half of the targeted beneficiaries on our side are women.
That's another dimension on on a potential way to see the
Thank you very much. And I think, uh, Ms Blake, there was a question for you as well.
we've been clear at the highest levels of my
government that there's more that needs to be done.
and this report is a stark and devastating reminder of this.
Israel needs to provide sustained,
unimpeded access to both northern and southern Gaza
in order to reverse the fast paced deterioration of the food
security situation and prevent the loss of life due to starvation,
acute malnutrition and disease outbreaks.
Um, but this is a really important topic.
And, uh, I would encourage you to engage colleagues in Washington
they can speak more authoritatively on the different
aspects of our engagement on the crisis.
Um, that at this point is, you know, truly around the clock. Thanks.
Thank you very much. OK, I think Michelle, you have a question a second a row here.
Thank you. Rolando Michel.
And for Geneva Solutions. Um,
my question is about, uh, conflict, Uh, which is, uh, you know, the the main driver.
I mean, it seems that in the end, it all boils down to political will.
So, um, what can humanitarian organisations do?
Uh, to the address, this particular issue,
this particular driver that they haven't been doing already.
And I also have a sort of a follow up for Mrs Blake. Uh, um,
regarding the situation in Gaza.
And, um uh, the pier that is expected to be, uh, built, Uh, soon.
Um, what are your expectations in terms of, uh, that?
How can that this particular, um, solution that has been found will actually
help alleviate the situation, particularly with some of the
scepticism that has been expressed regarding, you know,
that it will actually be able to,
reach, uh, those in in the northern part of Gaza. Thank you.
Maybe just to comment in terms of the root causes.
Obviously, the main driver, as you said is noted in the report,
is Conflict is the main driver.
And as the records show on year on, we have an increased number of displacement
in 2023. And that is expected to increase in 2024. Unfortunately,
and that is the root cause is obviously the conflict.
The situation in Sudan, for example, has now generated the largest
displacement on the record.
So that is very, very stark in terms of figures in terms of numbers.
And obviously of all these statistics,
there are people and families affected and impacted.
And as I mentioned, also, we see
all these displacements are protracted in nature,
meaning that they are lasting more than five years.
The majority of the refugees and displaced situations now
are in protracted situation, I think some 70%
sort of solutions inside in terms of the
root causes of the conflict that will allow people
to go back to their place of origin and to their countries of origin as well.
So that is really a sad situation.
We as a humanitarian agencies, obviously our focus is to assist
those who are displaced, but also to advocate
for long term solutions on that
and in that we play our part in terms of advocating with the government in terms of
but also to really look at while people are displaced
and even in the in the conditions that they are
to find long term solutions, integration,
inclusion of refugees and displaced persons in the national development plans,
as the situation is now more and more entrenched.
the root causes is to really
is to really address these issues and that's why
we think that it should be an integrated approach,
not only humanitarian, but development and peace.
That nexus has to be strongly
brought to bear in terms of making any efforts in terms of direction,
to ameliorate the situation.
Of course, to follow up on what you say I fully agree with what you said, of course,
indeed humanitarian agencies, we are there to respond to those most urgent needs,
primarily in line with the humanitarian
principles. But in the meantime, I think and our colleague fag
perhaps may want to come back on that as well. Later on,
the report we are launching today,
which is a report that we are launching since 2017
The exact purpose of that report is to draw attention in a consolidated way.
analysis, this is produced by 16 partners working together.
If you look at the cover page, there is no logo of any singular organisation.
It is us working together,
offering the international community with a technically
neutral analysis of these are the fifth
nine food crises in the world
trying to identify what are the drivers conflict, extreme weather events and
economic shocks and beyond that.
So this is done in the context of the global network against food crises,
providing the evidence to the international community but also trying to indeed
We need to provide humanitarian short term response,
but we need to work on the root causes we need to advocate on longer term solutions,
prevention, preparedness, anticipatory action.
Many of these on many of these especially
climate related shocks. A lot can be done in terms of anticipating.
Only it is better for the dignity of the people who are at risk,
but it is also a good thing for the
the taxpayer money that goes into that. Because it is much more cost effective.
Thank you both. Uh, I think, Miss Blake, you had a follow up here.
Sure. Um, on the maritime,
I mean that that is an all day long every day discussion.
And, uh, I would recommend, uh,
reaching out to colleagues at the Department of
Defence who are leading on shaping that effort.
They can speak in more detail, but what I can say is that the intention is a simple one.
and explore any and all means possible to get additional assistance, uh, into gaza.
I do think it's important, though,
that we also note that as Dominique highlighted at the top,
this is in the video as Well, this is truly a global challenge.
Uh, there are far too many people waking up in the morning not knowing,
um, where their next meal will come from, not knowing how to feed their Children.
Um, and having to make, um, really truly impossible decisions.
uh, throughout the course of their day to ensure that
their most fundamental needs are being met.
Um, and the report is important in that perspective, because it highlights that,
um uh, business as usual or ways of thinking about this, um aren't working.
we are really interested in using,
um, this partnership, um to really start to drive some long overdue and necessary,
uh, changes in our approach.
Thank you very much. And our colleague from the European Union has joined us.
I think he wanted to address a point on the previous question, if you will.
And if you can kindly introduce yourself. Thank you.
head of the humanitarian migration section at the EU delegation here in Geneva.
colleague has kindly given me the floor to just add to
the question of how we could be jointly addressing these drivers
indeed to recall that this report and indeed
the global network is first an attempt to
arrive at a joint and reliable view of the situation and that is quite key and
among the many partners involved in elaborating the report.
There is also, for example, our scientific branch, the EU Joint Research Centre.
And of course it's very significant that we are together in this with the
world's largest and second largest humanitarian donors, with
with other humanitarian partners, like
we need this joined up assessment to address the problems
and to the question of how we can address these drivers.
And how can the humanitarian organisations address these drivers?
I would respond. It shouldn't be just the humanitarians.
So what we have been saying and I think a good way of putting it is the
different pillars of a comprehensive approach.
Addressing food insecurity is of course, solidarity,
and we're all trying hard to make as much money available
as we can and other donors should of course step in.
But it's also the longer term efforts to
support production in the countries affected and we have
long lists of examples of good programmes working on
agri food chain value chains to increase production.
Then we have the trade aspects.
You're all aware of the initiatives over the last two years to
alleviate the impact on the global food prices
of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
And even after the Black Sea grain initiative
was not extended for reasons, you know,
we were able to continue the EU solidarity lanes from Ukraine or indeed the route and
multilateralism approaching this altogether as we are doing here today.
And as we will be trying to do through the G7 initiative led by Italy,
the G 20 initiative to be led by Brazil,
everything that we agreed and would still agree in the cop.
So cop 28 everything climate related.
place in the broader context that we are trying to
have a reliable view of the situation through this report.
We are trying to address both the immediate short term
needs and reason in longer term for production for trade.
And we are trying to do it together multilaterally.
Thank you very much for that elaboration.
Uh, Musa, we, uh if you don't mind,
we're going to go to Christian who's been waiting patiently online.
from the German News Agency has a question online. Go ahead, Christian.
My question is you are all calling for a more integrated response
and it sounds like we need to re invent the wheel here.
This is not new. This is what the UN is all about.
I thought coordinating and integrating.
So what is the failure here on the part of the UN?
That that doesn't seem to be happening enough?
You are also making suggestion suggestions of what needs to be done.
But can you be more specific of
who has failed? Who is failing? Who needs to do? What exactly are you talking to?
Governments? Are you talking to,
uh, heads of UN organisations? Are you talking to yourself? Who needs to do what?
Who wants to tackle that question?
It's a difficult one, but I think
we are not here to finger point to anyone. I mean, it's
it is a fact of the matter is that the situation now that we are
facing requires and this is the big plea
for all of US collective action collective mobilisation
and from the side of our resource partners. And this is why
Global Network Against Food Crises.
The report If you look at the report, there are so many partners the
UN agencies, resource partners,
technical sub regional organisations
they are all partners of that. We
are also I think what is very important to realise is
that where we say we need to transform at the end
way we work, it means that
the food agencies here we are not alone on that
working with us. But we are together on that
We are, of course, the central role of the World Bank for longer term
response. And here it's really
about, I would say, pulling together all our best assets to say Well,
indeed it needs to change.
to come with robust planning in support of the local government local
I mean to put in place those programmes so it takes effort on our side and we are not
evading. I would say, I don't know if it's the word in
English, but you understand what I mean. Our responsibilities.
We are doing what it takes.
as we have never been advocating before providing the evidence but also providing
the solutions. And we are more than ever partnering with
Of course, of those who have the prime responsibilities which are
country level. So this is I think, what we are
what we are trying to do. Uh, but also, uh, providing, uh, you know, uh, more, uh
uh, innovative approach where it can be. I mean, of course, evolving. So
these a RE my my two cents on that.
Thank you very much. Dominic
what is your recommendation to your administration
for Gaza Regarding the situation today,
The famine in somewhere is a result of
the collaboration between the United States and Israel.
bomb, the American bomb in Gaza,
and like you are a humanitarian person.
What is your recommendation for to your administration concerning that?
maybe the prevent of the catastrophe in Gaza. Thank you,
Dominic. Maybe the first question
Um, you're raising a really important set of questions.
and I would really encourage you to engage Washington colleagues
that can speak on all of the different aspects.
in much more authoritatively and in detail.
Uh, and I would just say that on this one.
and any other crisis that's covered in the context of the report,
the privilege of a personal opinion one way or the other,
um is a privilege that we give up, Uh, when we, uh, join government service.
Thank you very much, Miss Blake. I think our colleague from WFP is going to
Um, she's gonna jump in on that question on Gaza if you just give us a minute again,
if you can introduce yourself.
Is that OK? Yeah. OK, thanks.
Shall I answer in English and French?
Maybe in English, then in English Is fine for you.
the situation in Gaza is extremely worrying. We all know that
we are getting closer by the date to a famine situation.
is now acutely man nourished or wasted
and 70 per cent of the population in the north east
facing catastrophic anger.
there is reasonable evidence that all three famine thresholds, food insecurity,
will be passed in the next six weeks.
we are in a situation where the I
that means and Dominic mentioned that that, you know,
people cannot meet even the most basic
they have exhausted all coping strategies
begging, selling off their belongings to buy to buy food.
They are most of the time destitute
and clearly some of them are are dying
to address the situation and to halt the famines,
daily deliveries of food supplies.
we have mentioned the necessity to rebuild the
livelihood to address root cause and so on.
But in the immediate term, by tomorrow, we really need
to significantly increase our food supplies. This means rolling out
massive and consistent food assistance
in conditions that allow humanitarian staff
and supplies to move freely and
affected people to access safely. The assistance?
thank you very much, if you would I know we've met before, but if you wouldn't mind
true. I didn't introduce myself. Sorry for that. My name is Giancarlo Chie
and I am the World Food Programme
director of the Geneva office.
Thank you very much, Gian Carlo.
OK, I was gonna say last question, but a couple of other hands popped up,
so if you could indulge it just for a few more minutes.
if you wouldn't mind. Let's take it from a person who hasn't asked yet.
Lisa Schlein, a voice of America is online with a question.
Sorry. Is it me now? No. Christian. Sorry. We're going to jump over. You go to Lisa.
Lisa, who is? Hasn't asked the question yet.
Lisa, from Voice of America.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
OK. Yeah. I have have a couple questions.
One is I was wondering whether the, uh the number of,
uh a acutely food insecure peoples. Uh, 2.86 million. Is this a record number
of people or have uh, there have been other times when the situation has been worse.
And then your report talks about both Gaza and Sudan
of immediate emergency assistance. And,
uh, the WFP um, gentleman spoke very eloquently about the situation in Gaza.
Could you perhaps talk about the situation in Sudan in the same in this the same way
so that I can get a better fuller picture about what is going on there
and, uh, also, uh, someone else spoke about the need to reach
malnourished Children? Why is there such a need to reach them globally?
what happens to the Children now
will have a profound impact upon the
viability of future generations and future societies?
And just one other thing the the names of
the people who spoke who were not written before.
It's kind of hard to get the spelling and the titles.
If somebody after the briefing could
be kind enough to just send us those names and titles, it would be very helpful.
on the names and titles. Surely so we will uh, maybe key.
If I can ask you to send those, uh, details, Uh,
maybe in the chat and then afterwards in email,
Uh, we do have a colleague from, uh, Stefano
I think it is, uh, who is online from UNICEF
who may be able to address, uh, this question on Sudan,
yes, we can hear you, Stefano. Over to you.
Yes. Um, apologies for not being present in the room. I'm I'm
yes. Sudan is a major concern, uh, for, uh, the nutrition
component, because, uh, primarily of the
caseload. Uh, the the number of people is, uh, staggering.
And also, for the difficulty of reaching these people in many areas, there is, uh,
and or inconsistent access. And this is not only for, um, access to food, uh,
assistance, but also access to other critical essential services that are, uh,
for, uh, survival and prevention and addressing malnutrition, including
well, adequate water and sanitation and improving care practises.
I think it's it's It's an important point
from the The report is also that indicates that
while uh, conflict rdd areas are the most affected,
with around 60% of minors Children living in, uh,
10 countries facing the highest level of acute food insecurity
these coun these countries are, uh, grappling with significant, uh, conflicts,
which either persist or intensified in 23 2023
exacerbating, uh uh, existing, uh, food and nutrition crisis.
However, not all Children are at the highest.
Uh uh, risk of malnutrition necessarily live in food insecure areas.
and is determined by a complex interplay of factors including, obviously, uh,
food intake, but also hygiene practises and access to health and social services.
the report illustrates that areas with high levels of acute food
insecurity tend to have the high levels of acute malnutrition.
But the association is not necessarily linear in in all areas.
And, uh, we've seen that, uh, in, uh, in Gaza or also in Sudan.
Child wasting can escalate rapidly to the conflict and, uh,
and other conditions of the crisis.
this, uh, escalation of ST
this, uh, created the most severe food crisis in in ABC
and, uh, global report on food crisis history.
sorry, the the the the other point on the question, uh, was that
36.4 million Children under the age of five are acutely malnourished
in, uh, as reported in the report and 9.8 million.
So almost 10 million of these Children are severely
acutely malnourished and in urgent need of treatment.
And these risk, these Children are at at, uh, an increased risk of dying.
And even if they recover from malnutrition,
they are They are likely to not
meet their full cognitive or developmental potential,
which, uh, has obviously, um, critical impact on on on the individual level,
in terms of, uh, um, potential development of of the country.
Also, the final point is that
when we were talking about the failures and and and opportunities,
I just wanted to also highlight that in 2023 the humanitarian response plan, uh,
which includes all sectors in, uh
was only founded funded at 42% of a total of 56 billion
and for 2024 the current funding, uh, of an estimated total of 48 billion,
uh, is still only 9%. So obviously,
um, we need to address the the prevention first and foremost,
but then also address the humanitarian response.
American response is still, uh, severely underfunded.
Thanks to you, Stefano. I think, uh, Dominic wanted to add something on a general
on Sudan and perhaps also Gian Carlo went to say something on Sudan.
But on Sudan, of course, we are very concerned with the
rapid deterioration of the food security situation. We have about 18
million people who are in acute food insecurity.
What I think needs to be said also is that
about 5 million people who are in IP
one step away from famine
and that nine out of 10 of these people they are in the
in the current conflict. Hotspots of
Kan and Al Jazeera State and Khartoum
area. What is very concerning for us
the bulk of those people they depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
And that, for example, if you take the Al Jazeera state.
This is a critical state for food production.
It's about 50% of the wheat production of Sudan
that is coming out of Al Jazeera state.
when you know that we are a couple of weeks away from the planting season,
it is absolutely critical that wherever it will be possible to access the people,
we provide them with agricultural inputs on time so that they can plan their field.
those people fail to plan their field, it means we have to be prepared
massive food assistance requirements until
the next harvest next year.
that sort of assistance is critical,
We provided assistance in the last
in the last season to about 1 million people,
and we are trying to raise sufficient resource and be able
to provide those inputs on time for the coming planting season.
may want to say something on the
We think that there are obvious risks that Sudan
would become the largest anger crisis in the world in the short term.
and this, as you know, is severely affecting as well as south Sudan
and Chad for the refugee outflow.
Dominic mentioned this. 90% of people in I
we don't have access to those people
in the current situation.
We can we can't assist them
and not assisting a population that is under I.
to add to the grim picture. We think that the situation is likely to worsen
lean season that is starting in May.
the conflict makes it so difficult
and sometimes impossible to reach affected people
that as humanitarian we usually don't
for humanitarian principles.
to those principles, we don't call for ceasefire
contexts. We have no other choice than asking for a ceasefire. This is the only way
as a humanitarian as World Food Programme
to access these people that are in acute
we need that to scale up massively
assistance it can be done. But under the prevailing conditions,
the situation will further deteriorate. Thank you.
Just to add maybe a point on Sudan as well,
in terms of what Dominique and Giancarlo described on the
and the malnutrition and food insecurity.
Obviously, that is happening in the backdrop of the
the most dramatic displacement we have seen in
you have basically one in fourth of the population now
displaced and about 10,000,002 million refugees fleeing the country.
protection, disruptions and disruption of assets.
And the impact of livelihood is just
magnificent in terms of the impact on the food security,
but also on the well being of society in general.
that context. And in that background,
in the context of Sudan as well.
Uh, we've just passed the one hour mark, so we really have time for just one.
I'm sorry, Boris. Maybe afterwards we could take your question.
But Christian, been waiting for a quick,
quick follow up before we wrap up this press conference.
Christian from a German news agency.
Thank you so much. Uh, this is, uh, um to clarify what John Carlo said on Gaza.
Did you say that famine will be declared because the three, food insecurity,
malnutrition and mortality will be passed
in the next six weeks unless more food is being immediately delivered.
And if that is yes, then my question is, would this also be under embargo,
or could we use this information?
uh, you know, Israel is circulating photos of abundant markets in Gaza,
Uh, saying there is no food problem.
So maybe you can also just specify
where your information, Uh, where your assessments come from.
Does that rely on information from the Gaza Health Ministry?
Or do you have people on the ground who are actually
looking at people and making their own assessments?
Sorry about that. Thank you.
Dominic mentioned that declaring a famine,
the minimum on the humanitarian side that when we declare a famine, it's too late.
a huge number of people, so
And by the way, I can't predict if
it will be declared or not.
However, the assessment and this is not a
assessment. It's again a joint assessment
colleagues. It's a consensual assessment.
Latest assessment that is available
is indicating that we are on the path of a famine.
And this is not news. Sorry for that.
It's not a striking news.
And there again that we need a massive scale up We need We need access. We need
if required maritime access.
the most efficient way is land transport.
But every every means to increase
access to food within Gaza and especially in the northern part of Gaza,
then you ask the assessment. Yes.
I think I mentioned that it's a joint assessment with the
We indeed have people on the ground
and it has been performed as other
confident on the reading and interpretation of what the data are telling us.
Thanks to you, John Carlo.
And I think on that note, we'll we'll need to end this press conference and, um,
like to thank you all very,
very much for the important work you're doing
and for for holding this press conference,
Uh, I remind you, this is under embargo.
I, I take your point, Christiane Maybe you want to liaise with key afterwards.
conscience of the report that has been shared here is under embargo.
The embargo will be lifted in about 90 minutes from now.
I would like again to thank you.
And as you mentioned, Dominic is about drawing attention. Advocacy.
So thank you, journalists for for really doing just that.
It's It's critical that we do get some good reporting on this important report,
So thanks again and, uh, have a good day.
