Coronavirus: WFP concerned about risks of food shortage

Text by: David Baché

In a report published Friday, April 3, the UN humanitarian agency is concerned about the risk of food shortage created by the coronavirus pandemic, which threatens hundreds of millions of people worldwide, mainly in Africa.

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Usually, the risks of food shortage are caused by supply problems, in the event of a poor harvest, or by problems linked to demand, in the event of financial difficulties of the States which buy. In an “unprecedented” way, this time, “we have both at the same time”, worries the World Food Program.

The state of the stocks is not alarming, the foodstuffs exist, but the problem is more linked to the difficulties of transport, consequence of the containment measures which slow down for example the maritime transport, or to the irrational behaviors noted on the markets.

Market panic

" Argentina, for example, has blocked trucks in some of its very important grain export ports, " said Tiphaine Walton, spokesperson for the World Food Program.

Investors are panicked by the prospect of a global recession, fueled by issues raised around the world, such as the lack of seasonal labor on French farms, a factor also cited by WFP. Oil prices have fallen, those of food raw materials are very low: good news for the countries which import it, but also a factor of uncertainties. As for the countries that export raw materials, they mechanically see their incomes fall. And, consequently, their possibilities of importing foodstuffs.

Stocks exist

“ We have the stock to make up for it in the near future , once again points out Tiphaine Walton, but certain more fragile economies depend a lot on their exports of oil or copper for example, and do not have a performing agricultural sector. So they depend on their imports, and those countries are quickly at risk of having a problem. We think of Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria or Congo. "

Humanitarians prepare

WFP therefore indicates preparing for the worst, even if for the moment no shortage is noted anywhere. " We are following market prices, we are preparing to install increased systems for monitoring food and economic vulnerability in several countries, " explains Tiphaine Walton. The UN agency is finally pre-positioning additional food stocks in its humanitarian depots, mainly in Africa. " We are also anticipating the problems of closing borders, transporting equipment and humanitarian personnel by reflecting on the positioning of boats, planes or trucks to transport this aid. " Food distribution operations could also be replaced with cash transfers on a case-by-case basis.

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