The pandemic could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” with the number of people suffering from acute hunger projected to nearly double to 265 million this year, the UN warned (NOAH SEELAM)<\/i><\/p>\n
Washington (AFP) – The United Nations warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic could trigger famine in already vulnerable countries as the worldwide freeze on commerce sent shock waves through financial markets. <\/p>\n
The bleak warning came as deaths from the virus surpassed 174,000 worldwide, with governments anxiously trying to chart a path out of the unprecedented global health and economic emergency. <\/p>\n
Debates are raging worldwide over when and how to relax lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.<\/p>\n
Many leaders fear triggering another wave of infections but are also worried about the mounting economic costs and signs of social tension.<\/p>\n
The economic impact of the pandemic could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe,” with the number of people suffering from acute hunger projected to nearly double to 265 million this year, the UN’s World Food Program warned.<\/p>\n
“We are on the brink of a hunger pandemic,” WFP director David Beasley told the UN Security Council in a video conference.<\/p>\n
“Millions of civilians living in conflict-scarred nations, including many women and children, face being pushed to the brink of starvation, with the spectre of famine a very real and dangerous possibility.”<\/p>\n
The worst-case scenario could see famine in some three dozen countries, Beasley said.<\/p>\n
As the WFP warned of potential famine, Group of 20 agriculture ministers pledged to ensure “sufficient” global food supplies for “the poorest, the most vulnerable, and displaced people.” <\/p>\n
Freezes on whole sectors of commerce are already playing out dramatically on oil markets, where prices have crashed due to the drop-off in energy demand and a supply glut.<\/p>\n
– ‘Temporarily suspend immigration’ –<\/p>\n
The United States is now the hardest-hit country with more than 43,000 people dead and 784,000 infected. <\/p>\n
As the economic downturn starts to bite, US President Donald Trump announced the US would temporarily halt immigration to the country, claiming it would save American jobs — some 22 million of which have vanished in the wake of virus shutdowns. <\/p>\n
The vague threat was scant on details but suggested a hardening of his anti-immigration crusade, a move likely to delight supporters ahead of November elections.<\/p>\n
“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” he tweeted. <\/p>\n
The White House did not provide any further details Tuesday about the measure or how long it would last.<\/p>\n
– ‘Very, very few customers’ –<\/p>\n
In hard-hit Europe, some countries are cautiously creeping out from confinement, though large gatherings appear to be out of the question for the forseeable future.<\/p>\n
While Germany is allowing small shops to reopen, authorities cancelled Oktoberfest, a beloved beer-swilling festival in southern Bavaria, for the first time since World War II. <\/p>\n
Spain announced it was scrapping its annual bull-running festival in Pamplona.<\/p>\n
In one week though, children in Spain, who have been house-bound for over a month under a tight lockdown, will be allowed to accompany parents on food shopping and other sanctioned outings. <\/p>\n
Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has also promised to soon unveil a plan to start reopening the hard-hit country. <\/p>\n
But in a sign of what lies ahead, the gradual awakening of Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus first emerged, remains tinged with fear about fresh outbreaks of the disease. <\/p>\n
The industrial city was released from quarantine two weeks ago, but many restaurants, for instance, have not reopened or are still only able to offer outdoor seating and takeout. <\/p>\n
“We have very, very few customers,” said Han, the 27-year-old owner of a soy drink stall.<\/p>\n
“Everyone is worried about asymptomatic infected people,” she said. “Business is just not as good as before.”<\/p>\n
Singapore, meanwhile, has become a sober example of how infections may ebb and flow, with the financial hub extending lockdown measures Tuesday as it battles a second wave of contagion. <\/p>\n
– Trapped at home –<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, there is fear over how the most vulnerable will survive lockdowns that breed their own dangers.<\/p>\n
In many parts of the world, including Latin America, weeks of confinement have seen a surge in calls to helplines for victims of domestic abuse. <\/p>\n
Eighteen women have been killed by their partner or ex-partners during the first 20 days of Argentina’s mandatory quarantine.<\/p>\n
Appeals to helplines have also shot up nearly 40 percent. <\/p>\n
“Every day, a women is abused, raped or beaten at home by her partner or her ex,” said Ada Rico, from the NGO La Casa del Encuentro.<\/p>\n
Misery on the continent will be compounded by a looming economic recession, which a UN body says will spike poverty rates in the worst contraction in a century.<\/p>\n
– Oil upheaval –<\/p>\n
Financial markets continued a roller-coaster ride after the price of a US oil benchmark sunk below zero for the first time on Monday, sending world equities spiralling. <\/p>\n
A day after its historic slide into negative territory amid a supply glut, US oil futures finished in positive territory. <\/p>\n
But the market remained under heavy pressure due to the oversupply as shutdowns constrain global growth.<\/p>\n
Wall Street tumbled for a second straight session Tuesday as worries about chaos in the oil market overshadowed progress in Washington on additional relief for small businesses.<\/p>\n
Stocks did not get a boost from the deal between US lawmakers and the White House on a $480 billion emergency package that replenishes a depleted program to help small businesses devastated by the crisis.<\/p>\n
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down more than 630 points, or 2.7 percent.<\/p>\n
The aviation sector has been hammered particularly hard by the global economic pause, and cash-strapped Virgin Australia announced it had entered voluntary administration — the largest airline so far to collapse.<\/p>\n
Disclaimer:<\/b> Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The pandemic could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” with the number of people suffering from acute hunger projected to nearly double to 265 million this year, the UN warned (NOAH SEELAM) Washington (AFP) – The United Nations warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic could trigger famine in already vulnerable countries as the worldwide freeze on…<\/p>\n