Hunger In Caribbean Countries

ANSWERS

Bridgetown, N.Y.: The number of people in the English-speaking Caribbean who are estimated to be facing moderate to severe food insecurity has risen by an alarming 46 percent in the last six months. According to a recent survey conducted by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations World Food Programme, nearly 4.1 million people, or 57 percent of the population, are now food insecure (WFP).

While severe food insecurity in the region has remained essentially unchanged since February 2022, a significant increase in households experiencing moderate food insecurity has occurred. Over the last six months, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has increased by 1.3 million. The deterioration has been attributed to rising food and commodity prices due to the Ukraine conflict and the slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is being felt throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Almost 6% of people in the English-speaking Caribbean reported going an entire day without eating in the week preceding the survey, a 1% increase since February 2022. Another 36% skipped meals or ate less than usual, and 32% ate less preferred foods in the week following the survey. These figures were 30 and 25% in February, respectively.

External factors continue to threaten livelihoods and people’s ability to meet their basic needs in the Caribbean region. As of March 2022, food inflation in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean had risen by 10.2 percent on average across 20 countries. High energy prices are exacerbating the food price crisis. In April 2020, 97 percent of those polled reported higher food prices than 59 percent in April 2019.

“People’s inability to meet food and essential needs was a top concern for the first time in over two years, followed by unemployment,” said Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Integration, Innovation, and Development, CARICOM Secretariat. “CARICOM recognizes that additional assistance is required to reduce the region’s level of need and to establish systems that facilitate access to nutritious food for all.” Leaders in the region are actively engaging with decision-makers in all relevant sectors to identify solutions for increasing food production and reducing import dependency within the region to reduce food costs.”

QUESTION

Hunger In Caribbean Countries

Elaborate on hunger in Caribbean countries