The first famines of the coronavirus era could soon hit four chronically food-deprived conflict areas — Yemen, South Sudan, northeast Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo — the top humanitarian official of the United Nations has warned.
In a letter to members of the Security Council, the official, Mark Lowcock, said the risk of famines in these areas had been intensified by "natural disasters, economic shocks and public-health crises, all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.” Together, he said, "these factors are endangering the lives of millions of women, men and children.”
The letter, which has not been made public, was conveyed by Lowcock’s office to the Security Council on Friday under its 2018 resolution requiring updates when "the risk of conflict-induced famine and widespread food insecurity” occurs. A copy of the letter was seen by The New York Times.
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