Ukraine war: World Bank warns of ‘human catastrophe’ food crisis
The world faces a “human catastrophe” from a food crisis arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, World Bank president David Malpass has said.
He told the BBC that record rises in food prices would push hundreds of millions people into poverty and lower nutrition, if the crisis continues.
The World Bank calculates there could be a “huge” 37% jump in food prices.
This would hit the poor hardest, who will “eat less and have less money for anything else such as schooling”.
In an interview with BBC economics editor Faisal Islam, Mr Malpass, who leads the institution charged with global alleviation of poverty, said the impact on the poor made it “an unfair kind of crisis… that was true also of Covid”.
“It’s a human catastrophe, meaning nutrition goes down. But then it also becomes a political challenge for governments who can’t do anything about it, they didn’t cause it and they see the prices going up,” he said on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank meetings in Washington.
Blaming #Covid and #Russia for the massive spike #energy and #food prices is too easy. It is also linked to 'policymaking' before Covid hit. Likely another couple of nations can be added to the 'US/West unfriendly' list as their economies (and societies) collapse. pic.twitter.com/9jBetXXZs4
— jeroen blokland (@jsblokland) April 21, 2022
Thousands are packing the streets like sardines in Sri Lanka to protest against rapidly deteriorating living conditions and surging food prices. Take a look at this line of protestors that seems to stretch for miles.pic.twitter.com/RW9uPat2zg
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) April 20, 2022
The middle class is being wiped out by inflation in essential goods and services.
The inflationary spiral created by central banks in 2020 adds to the war. t.co/dnn9OdvRqC
— Daniel Lacalle (@dlacalle_IA) April 21, 2022
EXTRA FRIES, EXTRA COST: Fast-food prices hit highest increase in 41 years #8NN t.co/FsmSXN0rJ9
— 8 News Now (@8NewsNow) April 20, 2022
AC