UN climate report: Change land use to avoid a hungry future
AP reports: “Human-caused climate change is dramatically degrading the Earth’s
land and the way people use the land is making global warming worse, a
new United Nations scientific report says. [...] 'The stability of food
supply is projected to decrease as the magnitude and frequency of
extreme weather events that disrupt food chains increases,' the report
said.
In the worst-case scenario, food security problems change from moderate
to high risk with just a few more tenths of a degree of warming from
now. They go from high to 'very high' risk with just another 1.8 degrees
Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) of warming from now."
Comment: A UN scientific panel is warning that climate change heightens the risk of famine. The good news is that there are things that we can do to minimize the risk. The report highlights better farming practices, diet changes and reducing food waste as some things we can do to avoid the worst outcomes of climate change.
Showing posts with label Famine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Famine. Show all posts
Thursday, August 08, 2019
Friday, May 17, 2019
Pestilence - Famine
New crop-destroying pest enters China amid devastating swine fever epidemic - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A new pest that threatens key agricultural commodities is spreading through China as the nation is reeling from an African swine fever epidemic that may wipe out hundreds of millions of hogs. [...] The moth has arrived as China is losing a large percentage of its food supply to the rapid spread of African swine fever, which has spread to hogs throughout the country."
Comment: This could have serious implications for the global food supply.
UPI reports: "A new pest that threatens key agricultural commodities is spreading through China as the nation is reeling from an African swine fever epidemic that may wipe out hundreds of millions of hogs. [...] The moth has arrived as China is losing a large percentage of its food supply to the rapid spread of African swine fever, which has spread to hogs throughout the country."
Comment: This could have serious implications for the global food supply.
Saturday, May 04, 2019
Pestilence - Famine
Pig 'ebola' virus sends shock waves through global food chain
Bloomberg reports: "What started with a few dozen dead pigs in northeastern China is sending shock waves through the global food chain. Last August, a farm with fewer than 400 hogs on the outskirts of Shenyang was found to harbor African swine fever, the first ever occurrence of the contagious viral disease in the country with half the world’s pigs. [...] It was too late. By then, the disease had literally gone viral, dispersed across hundreds of miles in sickened animals, contaminated food, and in dirt and dust on truck tires and clothing. Nine months later, the contagion has spread nationwide, crossed borders to Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and bolstered meat markets globally. [...] The strain of African swine fever spreading in Asia is undeniably nasty, killing virtually every pig it infects by a hemorrhagic illness reminiscent of Ebola in humans. It’s not known to sicken people, however. [...] Increased Chinese meat imports will result in higher food costs that impact on economies across the globe. The extent of those ripple effects depends on how quickly the epidemic can be stopped."
Comment: As you know, there are many countries in the world whose food supply is always precarious. A shock in the supply chain can be weathered easily by many wealthy countries, but there are those that will tip quickly into famine if this epidemic is not quick contained.
Bloomberg reports: "What started with a few dozen dead pigs in northeastern China is sending shock waves through the global food chain. Last August, a farm with fewer than 400 hogs on the outskirts of Shenyang was found to harbor African swine fever, the first ever occurrence of the contagious viral disease in the country with half the world’s pigs. [...] It was too late. By then, the disease had literally gone viral, dispersed across hundreds of miles in sickened animals, contaminated food, and in dirt and dust on truck tires and clothing. Nine months later, the contagion has spread nationwide, crossed borders to Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and bolstered meat markets globally. [...] The strain of African swine fever spreading in Asia is undeniably nasty, killing virtually every pig it infects by a hemorrhagic illness reminiscent of Ebola in humans. It’s not known to sicken people, however. [...] Increased Chinese meat imports will result in higher food costs that impact on economies across the globe. The extent of those ripple effects depends on how quickly the epidemic can be stopped."
Comment: As you know, there are many countries in the world whose food supply is always precarious. A shock in the supply chain can be weathered easily by many wealthy countries, but there are those that will tip quickly into famine if this epidemic is not quick contained.
Friday, November 09, 2018
Famine
U.N.: 8 million people in Yemen nearing starvation:
UPI reports: "Efforts to avert mass starvation in war-ravaged Yemen will be doubled, the United Nations' World Food program announced on Friday. About 8 million people in Yemen are in an 'emergency situation,' a category recognized as a step below famine, the WFP said Friday. It added that an upcoming assessment, later in November, is expected to show that as many as 14 million people will be in an emergency classification. It indicates that half of Yemen's population is a step away from starvation, the WFP's Francis Mwanza Head said. In October the WFP warned that Yemen could face "the worst famine in 100 years."
Comment: The UN has been running refugee camps and aid camps for decades, if the parties to Yemen's civil war would let them do their jobs, they know how to distribute aid and help civilians caught in the crossfire.
UPI reports: "Efforts to avert mass starvation in war-ravaged Yemen will be doubled, the United Nations' World Food program announced on Friday. About 8 million people in Yemen are in an 'emergency situation,' a category recognized as a step below famine, the WFP said Friday. It added that an upcoming assessment, later in November, is expected to show that as many as 14 million people will be in an emergency classification. It indicates that half of Yemen's population is a step away from starvation, the WFP's Francis Mwanza Head said. In October the WFP warned that Yemen could face "the worst famine in 100 years."
Comment: The UN has been running refugee camps and aid camps for decades, if the parties to Yemen's civil war would let them do their jobs, they know how to distribute aid and help civilians caught in the crossfire.
Friday, November 02, 2018
Famine
U.N.: Fighting could turn Yemen food crisis into world's worst famine - UPI
UPI reports: "Severe hunger in Yemen could devolve into the worst famine in world history - and threaten the lives of more than a million mothers, a new United Nations report says. [...] The Yemeni civil war, now in its fourth year, has made it difficult to get humanitarian aid into the country [...] Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis urged the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthis to stop their attacks within 30 days so peace talks can begin."
Comment: Hopefully they can get the humanitarian assistance where it is needed even if the civil war continues. There are ways of doing that, Syria and Iraq have shown that.
UPI reports: "Severe hunger in Yemen could devolve into the worst famine in world history - and threaten the lives of more than a million mothers, a new United Nations report says. [...] The Yemeni civil war, now in its fourth year, has made it difficult to get humanitarian aid into the country [...] Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis urged the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthis to stop their attacks within 30 days so peace talks can begin."
Comment: Hopefully they can get the humanitarian assistance where it is needed even if the civil war continues. There are ways of doing that, Syria and Iraq have shown that.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Famine - Pestilence - War
Famine 'imminent' in Yemen as civil war drags on, U.N. official says - UPI
UPI reports: "Nearly half the Yemeni population relies entirely on humanitarian aid for survival and the country is on the verge of a widespread famine, a United Nations leader said Wednesday. [...] Yemen's civil war has so far killed at least 10,000 people and led to a humanitarian crisis of starvation and cholera."
Comment: This is a great tragedy. Strategically, I support Saudi Arabia in this proxy war against Iran. Iranian hegemony over the Middle East would be a far greater tragedy. Still, more can and should be done to get humanitarian assistance to civilians.
UPI reports: "Nearly half the Yemeni population relies entirely on humanitarian aid for survival and the country is on the verge of a widespread famine, a United Nations leader said Wednesday. [...] Yemen's civil war has so far killed at least 10,000 people and led to a humanitarian crisis of starvation and cholera."
Comment: This is a great tragedy. Strategically, I support Saudi Arabia in this proxy war against Iran. Iranian hegemony over the Middle East would be a far greater tragedy. Still, more can and should be done to get humanitarian assistance to civilians.
Thursday, October 04, 2018
Famine - War
Key battle in Yemen's war risks tipping country into famine - AP
AP reports: "With American backing, the United Arab Emirates has resumed an all-out offensive aimed at capturing Yemen’s most vital port, Hodeida, where Shiite rebels are digging in to fight to the last man. Thousands of civilians are caught in the middle, trapped by minefields and barrages of mortars and airstrikes. If the array of Yemeni militias backed by the UAE takes the city, it would be their biggest victory against the rebels, known as Houthis, after a long stalemate in the three-year-old civil war. But the battle on the Red Sea coast also threatens to throw Yemen into outright famine."
Comment: Throughout history famine and war often go hand in hand. Yemen, it seems, has not escaped that pattern.
AP reports: "With American backing, the United Arab Emirates has resumed an all-out offensive aimed at capturing Yemen’s most vital port, Hodeida, where Shiite rebels are digging in to fight to the last man. Thousands of civilians are caught in the middle, trapped by minefields and barrages of mortars and airstrikes. If the array of Yemeni militias backed by the UAE takes the city, it would be their biggest victory against the rebels, known as Houthis, after a long stalemate in the three-year-old civil war. But the battle on the Red Sea coast also threatens to throw Yemen into outright famine."
Comment: Throughout history famine and war often go hand in hand. Yemen, it seems, has not escaped that pattern.
Friday, September 14, 2018
Famine
Isolated and unseen, Yemenis eat leaves to stave off famine - AP
The AP reports: "At least 20 children are known to have died of starvation already this year in the province that includes the district, more than three years into the country’s ruinous civil war. The real number is likely far higher, since few families report it when their children die at home, officials say. [...] The worsening hunger in Aslam is a sign of the gaps in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed and under pressure from local authorities. Yet outside aid is the only thing preventing widespread death from starvation in Yemen. The conditions in the district may also be an indication that humanitarian officials’ warnings are coming true: In the face of unending war, hunger’s spread is outstripping efforts to keep people alive."
Comment: Famine can be natural or man-made. In this case, it appears to be a man-made famine caused by war and neglect. The neglect arises because international aid is provided but it is not reaching the poorest living in remote areas.
The AP reports: "At least 20 children are known to have died of starvation already this year in the province that includes the district, more than three years into the country’s ruinous civil war. The real number is likely far higher, since few families report it when their children die at home, officials say. [...] The worsening hunger in Aslam is a sign of the gaps in an international aid system that is already overwhelmed and under pressure from local authorities. Yet outside aid is the only thing preventing widespread death from starvation in Yemen. The conditions in the district may also be an indication that humanitarian officials’ warnings are coming true: In the face of unending war, hunger’s spread is outstripping efforts to keep people alive."
Comment: Famine can be natural or man-made. In this case, it appears to be a man-made famine caused by war and neglect. The neglect arises because international aid is provided but it is not reaching the poorest living in remote areas.
Monday, April 02, 2018
Famine
Climate change to increase risk of food insecurity - UPI.com
UPI reports: "According to a new study, rising global temperatures will threaten many populations' access to affordable, nutritious food. Global warming, or climate change, is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods. [...] Drought risks are likely to be most pronounced in southern Africa and South America, while Asia could be at greater risk of flooding. If global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, the flow of the River Ganges could more than double."
Comment: As we note man-made famine in the war zones of Africa, it's worth remembering that nature can also cause severe shortages.
UPI reports: "According to a new study, rising global temperatures will threaten many populations' access to affordable, nutritious food. Global warming, or climate change, is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods. [...] Drought risks are likely to be most pronounced in southern Africa and South America, while Asia could be at greater risk of flooding. If global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, the flow of the River Ganges could more than double."
Comment: As we note man-made famine in the war zones of Africa, it's worth remembering that nature can also cause severe shortages.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Famine
Rebel-held Sanaa braces for 'famine' as blockade tightens - AFP
AFP and Yahoo News report: "Residents of Yemen's rebel-held capital said Thursday rising food and fuel prices were making life increasingly difficult because of a Saudi-led blockade that the UN warned could bring the world's worst famine in decades."
Comment: I know some will argue that this is not a true famine. This is a man-made famine caused by war. But, whether famine is caused by climate, crop failure or from war, do we really think that starving people care about the distinction? Throughout most of recorded history war, famine and pestilence have gone hand in hand.
AFP and Yahoo News report: "Residents of Yemen's rebel-held capital said Thursday rising food and fuel prices were making life increasingly difficult because of a Saudi-led blockade that the UN warned could bring the world's worst famine in decades."
Comment: I know some will argue that this is not a true famine. This is a man-made famine caused by war. But, whether famine is caused by climate, crop failure or from war, do we really think that starving people care about the distinction? Throughout most of recorded history war, famine and pestilence have gone hand in hand.
Saturday, July 01, 2017
Famine
Famine must receive more of the world’s attention - CSMonitor.com
The Christian Science Monitor reports: "That famine could ravage millions of people in the 21st century seems unthinkable. But somehow the same world that is agog at driverless cars and looming trips to Mars is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades. As many as 20 million people face the threat of starvation in South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen, according to the United Nations. When the UN declares a famine, it isn’t saying that a crisis looms on the horizon: It means that very bad things are already happening, that many people have already died."
Comment: How unfortunate that this story is not receiving the press coverage that it should. If only famine victims had Twitter accounts, perhaps then their plight would be more newsworthy.
The Christian Science Monitor reports: "That famine could ravage millions of people in the 21st century seems unthinkable. But somehow the same world that is agog at driverless cars and looming trips to Mars is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades. As many as 20 million people face the threat of starvation in South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen, according to the United Nations. When the UN declares a famine, it isn’t saying that a crisis looms on the horizon: It means that very bad things are already happening, that many people have already died."
Comment: How unfortunate that this story is not receiving the press coverage that it should. If only famine victims had Twitter accounts, perhaps then their plight would be more newsworthy.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Famine
South Sudan still faces starvation as famine is declared over - UPI.com
UPI reports: "South Sudan is no longer in a state of famine, although 1.7 million people still face emergency levels of hunger, a United Nations-backed report said. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have died and millions displaced in a long-running civil war. The conflict, a series of inadequate harvests and a corresponding rise in the price of food led to the declaration of a famine in February."
Comment: This is some good news, for a change, although the report suggests that it's a stretch to say all is well in the region.
UPI reports: "South Sudan is no longer in a state of famine, although 1.7 million people still face emergency levels of hunger, a United Nations-backed report said. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have died and millions displaced in a long-running civil war. The conflict, a series of inadequate harvests and a corresponding rise in the price of food led to the declaration of a famine in February."
Comment: This is some good news, for a change, although the report suggests that it's a stretch to say all is well in the region.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Famine
U.N.: 10 million North Koreans face food shortages - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Levels of hunger not found in other parts of East Asia persist in North Korea, according to a report from two United Nations agencies. The Food and Agricultural Organization and World Food Program's 2017 Global Report on Food Crisis states 17 percent of the North Korean population, or 4.4 million, are in a state of 'crisis, emergency and famine,' Voice of America reported Thursday. Nearly 1 out of 5 North Koreans face the most severe form of food insecurity, classified as "phase 3 and higher," according to the U.N. scale."
Comment: Does it count as a real famine if it's entirely caused by a despotic ruler? I suppose the people who are starving don't really care if it's a natural famine or a man-made famine, right?
UPI reports: "Levels of hunger not found in other parts of East Asia persist in North Korea, according to a report from two United Nations agencies. The Food and Agricultural Organization and World Food Program's 2017 Global Report on Food Crisis states 17 percent of the North Korean population, or 4.4 million, are in a state of 'crisis, emergency and famine,' Voice of America reported Thursday. Nearly 1 out of 5 North Koreans face the most severe form of food insecurity, classified as "phase 3 and higher," according to the U.N. scale."
Comment: Does it count as a real famine if it's entirely caused by a despotic ruler? I suppose the people who are starving don't really care if it's a natural famine or a man-made famine, right?
Saturday, April 08, 2017
Famine - Pestilence
Cholera spreads in famine-threatened Somalia | Reuters
Reuters reports: "Deadly cholera is spreading through drought-ravaged Somalia as clean water sources dry up, a top aid official said, deepening a humanitarian crisis in a country that is on the verge of famine. The Horn of Africa nation has recorded more than 18,000 cases of cholera so far this year, up from around 15,000 in all of 2016 [...] Somalia is suffering from a severe drought that means more than half of its 12 million citizens are expected to need aid by July. Families have been forced to drink slimy, infected water after the rains failed and wells and rivers dried up."
Reuters reports: "Deadly cholera is spreading through drought-ravaged Somalia as clean water sources dry up, a top aid official said, deepening a humanitarian crisis in a country that is on the verge of famine. The Horn of Africa nation has recorded more than 18,000 cases of cholera so far this year, up from around 15,000 in all of 2016 [...] Somalia is suffering from a severe drought that means more than half of its 12 million citizens are expected to need aid by July. Families have been forced to drink slimy, infected water after the rains failed and wells and rivers dried up."
Friday, March 31, 2017
Famine
Famine Crisis May Worsen This Year in Four Countries - NBC News
NBC News reports: "Global food crises worsened significantly in 2016 and conditions look set to deteriorate further this year in some areas with an increasing risk of famine, a report said on Friday. 'There is a high risk of famine in some areas of north-eastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen because of armed conflict, drought and macro-economic collapse,' the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) said. FSIN, which is co-sponsored by the United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme and the International Food Policy Research Institute, said the demand for humanitarian assistance was escalating."
Comment: I wonder if there is a general reluctance to help when it's known that the cause of the famine is man-made (war) and not due to natural disasters?
NBC News reports: "Global food crises worsened significantly in 2016 and conditions look set to deteriorate further this year in some areas with an increasing risk of famine, a report said on Friday. 'There is a high risk of famine in some areas of north-eastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen because of armed conflict, drought and macro-economic collapse,' the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) said. FSIN, which is co-sponsored by the United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme and the International Food Policy Research Institute, said the demand for humanitarian assistance was escalating."
Comment: I wonder if there is a general reluctance to help when it's known that the cause of the famine is man-made (war) and not due to natural disasters?
Friday, March 10, 2017
Famine
MSN - UN says world faces largest humanitarian crisis since 1945
The AP reports: "The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945 with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Friday. [...] U.N. and food organizations define famine as when more than 30 percent of children under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition and mortality rates are two or more deaths per 10,000 people every day, among other criteria."
Comment: The real issue here is war, this is a man-made famine, hopefully they can find a way to address that root cause.
The AP reports: "The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945 with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Friday. [...] U.N. and food organizations define famine as when more than 30 percent of children under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition and mortality rates are two or more deaths per 10,000 people every day, among other criteria."
Comment: The real issue here is war, this is a man-made famine, hopefully they can find a way to address that root cause.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Famine
Famine declared in South Sudan; U.N. says more than 5M at risk - UPI.com
UPI reports: "South Sudan on Monday declared a famine is affecting 100,000 people while U.N. agencies report another 1 million people are on the threshold of starvation. [...] South Sudan has seen a three-year war between the government and rebel factions, leading to the displacement of 3 million people and the disruption of farming."
Comment: That's a sad situation. Hopefully the government and rebel factions can set aside their differences long enough for aid workers to get in there and provide some humanitarian assistance.
UPI reports: "South Sudan on Monday declared a famine is affecting 100,000 people while U.N. agencies report another 1 million people are on the threshold of starvation. [...] South Sudan has seen a three-year war between the government and rebel factions, leading to the displacement of 3 million people and the disruption of farming."
Comment: That's a sad situation. Hopefully the government and rebel factions can set aside their differences long enough for aid workers to get in there and provide some humanitarian assistance.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Famine
Dust Bowl would obliterate modern crops - UPI.com
UPI reports: "If the conditions of the Dust Bowl were replicated today, modern agriculture would be devastated, according to scientists at the University of Chicago. Researchers analyzed how extreme drought and heat would affect maize, soy and wheat crops in the United States. The results show conditions similar to the 1930s would drastically reduce modern crop yields. [...] Though agricultural practices have evolved since the 1930s, most changes have privileged yield over resilience and sustainability. As a result, scientists suggest many staple crops remain vulnerable to extreme weather."
UPI reports: "If the conditions of the Dust Bowl were replicated today, modern agriculture would be devastated, according to scientists at the University of Chicago. Researchers analyzed how extreme drought and heat would affect maize, soy and wheat crops in the United States. The results show conditions similar to the 1930s would drastically reduce modern crop yields. [...] Though agricultural practices have evolved since the 1930s, most changes have privileged yield over resilience and sustainability. As a result, scientists suggest many staple crops remain vulnerable to extreme weather."
Wednesday, December 07, 2016
Famine
Major famine imminent in Nigeria as Boko Haram attacks cripple economy - ABC News
ABC News (AU) reports: "The United Nations believes as many as 75,000 people could die in
north-eastern Nigeria in the next 12 months unless there is a renewed
contribution from the international community.
Already close to five million people need food assistance.
There are predictions of a major famine, mainly due to the insecurity
brought about by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
The jihadist group claims to have established a caliphate in West
Africa.
It regularly carries out suicide bombings, kidnappings and merciless
assaults on entire villages."
Comment: So many of the recent famines in history have been man-made, a result of war and corruption more than a lack of rainfall.
Comment: So many of the recent famines in history have been man-made, a result of war and corruption more than a lack of rainfall.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Famine
AFP - Five million Somalis now going hungry
AFP reports: "Five million Somalis, or more than two out of five people in the country, do not have enough to eat, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling for extra funds for food aid. The latest figures represent an increase of 300,000 food insecure people since February, said the UN's humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. [...] Harvests have been hit this year by a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon which occurs every five to seven years. Worst hit by hunger are the estimated 1.1 million people displaced from their homes by conflict, some of them forced to move several times during the past two decades."
Comment: People don't really talk much about famine anymore. That's doesn't mean it's not happening.
AFP reports: "Five million Somalis, or more than two out of five people in the country, do not have enough to eat, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling for extra funds for food aid. The latest figures represent an increase of 300,000 food insecure people since February, said the UN's humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. [...] Harvests have been hit this year by a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon which occurs every five to seven years. Worst hit by hunger are the estimated 1.1 million people displaced from their homes by conflict, some of them forced to move several times during the past two decades."
Comment: People don't really talk much about famine anymore. That's doesn't mean it's not happening.
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