Peace and security in a post-covid world

Image of a woman sitting in her farm with her two kids

COVID-19 is taking most of the attention away from issues that are perhaps equally concerning but maybe not as immediate.

An increasing number of countries are facing growing levels of acute food insecurity, reversing years of development gain. The COVID-19 impacts have led to severe and widespread increases in global food insecurity, affecting vulnerable households in almost every country, with impacts expected to continue through 2021, into 2022, and possibly beyond.

The fact that COVID-19 is projected to double the number of people suffering from acute hunger or what can be defined a hunger pandemic — already shows the extent of the threat. The cumulative effects of coronavirus and its economic consequences, including an increase in food prices can lead to instability and riots. With the most vulnerable hit hardest by COVID-19, this is a very difficult period.

A look at African countries which are already struggling with the concurrent scourges of climate change, poverty and, often, conflict, should be of particular concern.

The Global Report on Food Crises 2020, had estimated that 135 million people in 55 countries currently face acute hunger as a result chiefly of conflict, the effects of climate change, and economic crises. That report was drawn up prior to the emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic, and the contrasting figures provide a startling insight into the devastating potential of this virus.

No place probably illustrates this better than South Sudan. The nation is already facing vast challenges from decades of war, droughts, floods, a stagnant economy and, most recently, a locust invasion.

Curious to see how hunger, peace and security look like in the post-COVID world?