The Enduring Link Between Conflict and Hunger in the 21st Century

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about massive economic and humanitarian crises across the globe: 4.7 million people have died, [1] economic activity has slowed, some 220 million people lost their livelihoods, and poverty and hunger are on the rise. Indeed, the pandemic has reversed many of the development gains of the earlier decades and threatens to undermine efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The pandemic has led to severe and widespread increases in food insecurity globally. [2] Certain populations in developed countries have also become food insecure due to reduced incomes, higher food prices, [a] and disrupted supply chains. Experts warn that hunger is likely to increase in over 20 countries unless relief operations are immediately scaled up, [3] even as between 720 and 811 million people faced hunger in 2020. [4]