Accra:UN Women has issued a warning that 11.7 million more women and girls across 28 countries could face food insecurity by the end of the year. This is attributed to the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have resulted in increased food prices and negative impacts on livelihoods.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, The agency's new analysis indicates that a moderate-impact scenario could lead to around 22 million additional people experiencing food insecurity, with women and girls making up 53 percent of this group. These individuals would add to the approximately 208 million women and girls already dealing with food insecurity or malnutrition in the studied countries.
Neradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women's Deputy Executive Director, pointed out that the most populous countries have the highest numbers of women and girls at risk. Countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, and Haiti are particularly vulnerable due to the combined effects of conflict, displacement, and economic instability.
Gumbonzvanda emphasized that women and girls often suffer the most in food crises, as they tend to reduce their food consumption or skip meals to provide for their families while facing employment gaps and limited access to financial services and economic resources.
UN Women has called for a comprehensive response that includes enhancing food and cash assistance, protection and livelihood programs, and agricultural support. They also advocate for directing resources to the most vulnerable areas and improving data collection on the conditions faced by women and girls to better identify those most affected.
Addressing the crisis, Gumbonzvanda highlighted the need for not only humanitarian efforts but also peace, security, de-escalation, and diplomatic solutions to foster stability at both regional and international levels.