With the approaching cold weather, UNHCR is bracing for a deepening of the crisis. The winter season will considerably increase the need for humanitarian and medical assistance.
The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic could increase the number of children in household poverty by 15 percent before the end of 2020, according to Save the Children and UNICEF.
"We cannot and must not underestimate the damage to lives and livelihoods that the convergence of these crises will have on food security and hunger in this part of the world," said FAO's Kim.
El impacto socioeconómico de la pandemia COVID-19 en la región podría empujar a 14 millones de personas a la inseguridad alimentaria severa, según el Programa Mundial de Alimentos de la ONU.
This coordinated appeal builds on the previous one on 26 March and aims to increase life-saving services and support to address immediate impacts of the pandemic and long-lasting economic repercussions.
With weak healthcare systems and high levels of inequality, the crisis presents an unprecedented challenge for struggling families. Children are especially vulnerable and families risk collapsing.
Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are among the top 10 countries in the world with the worst food crises by number of people in crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) with nearly 40 million suffering.
“It is vital and urgent that we provide food assistance to the growing number of vulnerable people in the region ... We still have time to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from becoming a hunger pandemic.”
Without support, many urban refugees will become extremely vulnerable to exploitation, risk falling into debt and may be forced into desperate situations, such as transactional sex or child labour.
La pandemia esta teniendo un impacto desproporcionado en 70 millones de desplazados forzosos en el mundo, así como en migrantes. La MSF indica medidas que deben realizarse.