The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life to public health, food systems

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life to public health, food systems

By Onlykhabar News Media Wed 14 October, 2020 ( about 5 years ago ) 🎤1023 Viewershealth

The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work.  The number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year.  Informal economy workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health care and have lost access to productive assets. Millions of enterprises face an existential threat. Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods.

Without the means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. The pandemic has been affecting the entire food system and has laid bare its fragility.  The pandemic has decimated jobs and placed millions of livelihoods at risk. Millions of agricultural workers – waged and self-employed – while feeding the world, regularly face high levels of working poverty, malnutrition and poor health, and suffer from a lack of safety and labour protection as well as other types of abuse. Further, when experiencing income losses, they may resort to negative coping strategies, such as distress sale of assets, predatory loans or child labour. 

 Guaranteeing the safety and health of all agri-food workers – from primary producers to those involved in food processing, transport and retail, including street food vendors – as well as better incomes and protection, will be critical to saving lives and protecting public health, people’s livelihoods and food security. In the COVID-19 crisis food security, public health, and employment and labour issues, in particular workers’ health and safety, converge. Countries dealing with existing humanitarian crises or emergencies are particularly exposed to the effects of COVID-19. Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world. 

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By Onlykhabar News Media Wed 14 October, 2020 🎤1023 Viewershealth
TAGS: WHO FAO Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life to public health, food systems

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