Coronavirus Famines
Severely undernourished child in India, Author Don Eddins/CDC, Source CDC/Public Health Image Library (ID No. 1702), (PD as work product of US federal govt.)
Just as the developed world is beginning to recover from the initial onslaught of the coronavirus, famines of catastrophic proportions are predicted in Third World countries [1A].
Across the globe, 135 million people already face starvation, as the result of war and poverty. The UN has warned that an additional 130 million people are at risk of famine, as a result of the pandemic.
The ten countries at greatest risk are: Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan.
The factors driving this are the worldwide economic recession (stemming from coronavirus lockdowns), massive reductions in the aid sent home by foreign workers, a collapse of the oil market, and a loss of tourism [1B][2]. Drought, crop failures, and locust swarms have only added to the problem.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13: 8).
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[1A and 1B] CNN, “Corona virus pandemic will cause global famines of ‘biblical’ proportions, UN warns” by Rob Picheta, 4/22/20, https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/22/africa/coronavirus-famine-un-warning-intl/index.html.
[2] Star Tribune, “Virus crisis cuts off billions sent to poor around the world” by Gisela Salomon, Sonia Perez, and Michael Weissenstein, 4/7/20, https://www.startribune.com/coronavirus-crisis-cuts-money-sent-home-to-poorer-nations/569441122/.
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So sad. My LIKE is an acknowledgement of the post. I would rather use a crying emoticon or even a breaking heart. How God must cry. 😦 God loves ALL of His children!
Me and God love you, Anna!
You are so right, Gail. God’s heart must be breaking. With love, A.
💔
Heart-rendingly true. Thanks for your courage, Anna, in posting this when most of us would just look the other way. Until it’s on our doorstep.
Thank you for your kindness in reading it, Erroll.
I feel out of touch because I’ve never heard about this pandemic related famine. So sad.
Unlike you, far too many deliberately turn a deaf ear, Bill. Your heart is always in the right place.
Reading of such things leaves me overcome with a sense of helplessness. Surely this is what the Scripture is speaking of, which says, “For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now…” The words are used of a woman in the travail pains of birth. There is great hope, then, in the midst of this great travail. A new creation is being birthed!
Each day brings us closer to His return. That is my consolation.
It’s so heart breaking what this corona virus has brought apon the world. Thankyou for writing this and enlightening us
Thank you very much for your concern.
Then there are the record floods and earthquakes in China which the CCP under reports to save face and does little to save their people and relieve their suffering. Not to mention all the persecution and murders the CCP has perpetrated against all faiths in China. God help all those poor people!
How well you anticipate me, Michael. I have a post on the religious persecution in China scheduled for 7/26.
V different topic you choose to write , so sad , a lovely post full of tears.
Thank you for stopping by.
Famine
Most overweight people will benefit health wise in the initial stages of a famine;
But in the later stages all will eventually succumb to malnutrition.
At the height of the pandemic the UK’s DfID also merged with the FCO. I’m not much into details, but there is fear that it will reduce aid to the developing world (because of the dubious timing), although the government tries to assure that it will keep to the OECD commitment of 0.7% (of GDP) for poverty alleviation. Thanks for the posts, Anna.
These are difficult times.
For us in the West/North countries, but more so for the Southern hemisphere. Oh God, mercy! 🙏