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The food crisis, derived from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could bring the world a “human catastrophe”, by pushing hundreds of millions of people into poverty, said World Bank President David Malpass.
According to World Bank estimates, the rise in food prices around the world could take a “huge” jump of 19%, which would affect the lower socioeconomic classes more strongly, as they have fewer resources for food and education.
In an interview for the BBC, Malpass said that like the Covid pandemic 19, the conflict in Ukraine has brought an “unjust crisis” for the poorest as there are broad and deep increases in staple foods, oils, grains and corn crops.
“It is a catastrophe h umana, which means low nutrition. But then it also becomes a political challenge for governments that can’t do anything about it, they didn’t cause it, and they see prices go up,” he said.
Although it considers that there is enough food to provide the world’s population, and it has large reserves, there must be a distribution process to bring food where it is most needed.
The head of the institution in charge of global poverty alleviation did not advise countries to give support to promote food production and limit prices . He instead suggested to increase fertilizer and food supplies from the poorest population .
Malpass also said that world inflation has led many developing countries to face a “crisis within the crisis”, alluding to the problems they have in paying the debts generated as a result of the pandemic, amid rising prices in various consumer items.
According to the UN Food Price Index, current prices are at their highest point since that the records began 60 years ago, after they went up 13% last March.
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