With hunger having almost doubled since 2019, the international development agency’s report raises concerns of a refugee crisis concerned while it confirms the scope of Christian Aid projects in several of the countries could be set back because of increasing prices.
Christian Aid is calling for the UK Government to take a leadership role to push all G7 countries to uphold G7 Famine Compact Commitments, including new funding to scale up crisis preparedness and response, and to restore international aid cuts to 0.7% of GDP.
The intervention comes as polling by Savanta, commissioned by Christian Aid, shows seven in ten (71%) of the British public said the war in Ukraine and the consequences of rising food prices made them worry more about people facing hunger.
However, while nine in 10 (91%) of the British public is aware of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine just two in ten (23%) is aware of the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.
Michael Mosselmans, Christian Aid’s Head of Humanitarian, said: “We must be clear; we are facing a humanitarian crisis. Poverty and hunger are set to rise exponentially in some of the poorest parts of the world. Christian Aid is hearing of growing fears that a food crisis could lead to riots and instability. While these fears remain underreported, we must be ready for a refugee crisis like the Arab Spring.”
The report sites concern that areas in Burundi are running out of fuel while in in the DRC local traders say the current situation is worse than during the pandemic. In Zimbabwe, food prices in May were 154.6 per cent higher than the previous year, with year-on-year inflation at 131.7 per cent.
In Afghanistan, Christian Aid workers in Herat found that the cost of a 16L oil pack has risen from 3000 Afghani (£27) to 4300 Afghani (£39) in just one week. The size of bread in Herat bakeries has also reduced “significantly” after flour prices doubled in the last month.
Subrata De, Christian Aid country manager for Afghanistan, warned: “One cannot imagine the situation of poor families. People are openly offering to sell their body parts to manage the price hike. Very soon Afghanistan will experience another round of extreme humanitarian situation where families will be forced to sell their children.”
Analysis of energy costs in the report, using data from Global Petro Prices data sets, show that for the countries where Christian Aid is operational household prices have risen from 2019 to date. In addition to creating a cost-of-living crisis, Christian Aid fears price rises are restricting their ability to respond to people in need.
Ray Hasan, Christian Aid’s Head of Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean & Global Programmes, said: “The rocketing price rises for food and fuel that we are currently experiencing are having serious impacts on our work. The food we distribute is more expensive now and sometimes we must cut back on certain items like oil so that we can help more people with the basics. Cash distributions are less meaningful than they used to be.”
“The time to act is now,” Mr Mosselmans adds. “We also need a long-term approach to stabilising global food security and to stop funding fossil fuels and the reliance on Russia that causes, both of which impacts the countries where we work. That means investment in sustainable renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.”
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
Please see the report here.
A note on methodology:
Savanta interviewed 2197 UK adults online from 29th April to 2nd May 2022. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of UK adults by age, gender, region, working status and social grade. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
Question: The war in Ukraine has seen global food prices accelerate and increase the risk of shortages. To what extent does news like this make you worry more or less about people facing hunger elsewhere in the world?
|
It makes me much more worried |
30% |
|
It makes me a little more worried |
41% |
|
It doesn't make me any more or less worried |
23% |
|
It makes me a little less worried |
2% |
|
It makes me a much less worried |
1% |
|
Don't know |
3% |
|
Net: more worried |
71% |
|
Net: Less worried |
3% |
Question: Are you aware of the following humanitarian crisis?
|
Crisis |
Yes |
No |
Don’t know |
|
Ukraine |
91% |
7% |
2% |
|
Syria |
74% |
25% |
5% |
|
Afghanistan |
73% |
22% |
4% |
|
Yemen |
60% |
34% |
6% |
|
South Sudan |
48% |
45% |
6% |
|
Myanmar |
43% |
51% |
6% |
|
Horn of Africa |
23% |
69% |
7% |
Open letter to UK Ministers:
A coalition of 15 international aid agencies, led by Christian Aid, have written to Ministers calling for them to commit new funding to tackle famines around the world in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Please see the text of the open letter below:
The conflict in Ukraine is a grave humanitarian disaster, and the worst in Europe since 1945. We are moved by the extraordinary generosity and solidarity shown by the British public to people whose lives have been torn apart. The commitment of £400m in economic and humanitarian aid from the UK Government to the people of Ukraine is vital.
International aid charities are now moving at speed and scale to support local humanitarian responders to provide aid, both to people inside Ukraine’s borders and among those forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries. We must now gather our strength for the long haul as the situation looks likely to get worse before it gets better.
In this moment of unprecedented support to Ukraine, we must also recognise that the conflict is causing suffering far beyond its borders, including through the twin impact of rising food and energy costs. This is exacerbating pre-existing hunger crises for many countries, including in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Middle East, which will threaten political stability. If we don’t act fast the threat of famine will increase for millions of people.
The UK must play a leading role in responding both to the urgent needs of Ukraine and of those people around the world who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. The global hunger crisis is not temporary, and it is not a surprise. After decades of progress in reducing hunger, it has almost doubled since 2019.
Globally, 45 million people were already at risk of famine, with women and girls making up 60% of food insecure people worldwide. The UN projects that a further 8-20 million people will now be left hungry from the knock-on effects of soaring prices and broken supply chains for grains, cooking oil, fertiliser and fuel. Girls and women face particular risks, as they often eat less and last when food is scarce. Even before the crisis, the UN’s World Food Programme reported that 3 million children a year died from malnutrition - one every 10 seconds.
In 2017, the UK’s action helped to avert the worst of a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Similarly effective and quick action is needed again now. The UK Government, working with local and international partners, cannot wait until famine strikes. We can and must act urgently to prevent a food crisis. We call on the UK Government to:
- Show leadership among the G7 and urgently take concrete action to uphold G7 Famine Compact and Nutrition for Growth Commitments, including new funding to prevent famine in countries already on the brink.
- Reverse cuts to international aid by returning to a commitment of 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI). Funding for Ukraine must be in addition to all existing UK aid commitments, not money diverted away from other crises.
- Support efforts to keep food affordable and stabilise prices.
- Prioritise World Bank capacity for crisis preparedness and a response that respects human dignity and environmental sustainability.
We should see hope in the generous and welcoming public response to people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The UK Government must match the spirit of the British public’s response to the DEC Ukraine appeal and look beyond the borders of Europe. That is the litmus test of ‘Global Britain.’
Faithfully,
Jean-Michel Grand, Action Against Hunger UK
Frances Longley, ActionAid UK
Chris Roles, Age International
Mike Adamson, British Red Cross
Christine Allen, CAFOD
Laurie Lee, CARE International UK
Patrick Watt, Christian Aid
Danny Harvey, Concern Worldwide
Laura Kyrke Smith, International Rescue Committee
Waseem Ahmad, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam GB
Rose Caldwell, Plan International UK
Gwen Hines, Save the Children UK
Nigel Harris, Tearfund
Mark Sheard, World Vision UK
