SMS – Food insecurity: between past and present

Food crises in four countries have been heavily publicised recently: Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. 70 million people across 45 countries will require emergency food assistance this year, up from 45 million in 2015.

Fatalities are likely to increase further due to concomitant pandemics, as undernourishment weakens the immune system and both food insecurity and illness appear under similar conditions. But what exactly is the current state of play and how is the international community responding?