The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
World Food Programme (WFP) warns that COVID-19 third wave has hit Myanmar’s people like a ‘tsunami’
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday that it is facing a 70 per cent funding shortfall in Myanmar, where millions face growing food insecurity.
Amid the “triple impact of poverty, the current political unrest and economic crisis”, coupled with the rapidly spreading third wave of COVID-19, that is “practically like a tsunami that’s hit this country”, the people of Myanmar are “experiencing the most difficult moment in their lives”, WFP Myanmar Country Director Stephen Anderson said, from Nay Pyi Taw.
“These multiple challenges are undermining the ability of many communities throughout Myanmar to put food on their family’s table,” he added. The WFP needs $86 million to help fight hunger in the country over the next six months, amid turmoil since the military ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on 1 February 1.
In April, the UN agency estimated that 3.4 million more people nationwide could be pushed into food insecurity between May and October. In response, the WFP tripled its planned support to the country and commenced “large-scale emergency food distributions for up to two million people in the poorest townships of Myanmar, starting in Yangon,” Mr Anderson explained.
At the same time, the WFP is “stepping up its operations” to reach newly-displaced people affected by the clashes and insecurity in recent months, while continuing to assist 360,000 food-insecure people in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states, where there have been longstanding concerns.
Calling for critical access to all those in need in order to provide them with humanitarian assistance, Mr. Anderson urged the international community to support the WFP’s work.
“We very much need sustained access to those who are in greatest need of humanitarian assistance…we do need the support and attention of the international community now more than ever.”
ends
STORY: Myanmar Food Insecurity - WFP
TRT: 03:04”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 6 August 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
2. Wide shot, press briefing room.
3. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Stephen Anderson, WFP Myanmar Country Director: “The people of Myanmar are going through their most difficult time in memory. They've been faced with multiple challenges, multiple shocks. First of all, poverty. Of course, poverty predated the current situation. But then, of course, since the 1 February military takeover, there has been increased political unrest, there is also economic and economic crisis.”
4.Wide of panel at the briefing.
5. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Stephen Anderson, WFP Myanmar Country Director: “COVID19, we had a very tough second wave last year, which had a devastating impact on people's livelihoods, and now the third wave, it's practically like a tsunami that's hit this country. It's hitting all aspects and creating major havoc.”
6.Close, side view of panel at the briefing.
7.SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Stephen Anderson, WFP Myanmar Country Director:
“WFP has tried to launch large-scale assistance to people who are we believe are in very high need, in critical need in urban areas, in the poorest parts of the urban areas. And we started in Yangon and we've assisted approximately 750,000 people so far. But we believe that about two million people should be targeted with emergency food assistance.”
8.Mid of journalists at the briefing.
9. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Stephen Anderson, WFP Myanmar Country Director:
“We are also sustaining our support for about 360 thousand people who require monthly lifesaving support. And these were people who were needy even before this year. They are mainly living in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states where there has been long-running conflict.”
10.Mid of journalist at briefing.
11. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Stephen Anderson, WFP Myanmar Country Director:
“So, essentially, we are facing a 70 per cent funding gap over the next six months. We need approximately $86 million. Equally, of course, we very much need sustained access to those who are in greatest need of humanitarian assistance. And really so to really sum it up, we do need the support and attention of the international community now more than ever.”
12. Mid of journalist on phone at briefing.
13. Wide of panel at briefing.
14. Mid of journalist at briefing.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News , B-roll | OCHA
Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA
Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.
/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR
Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR
With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Funding and supply shortfalls for the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s work in Ethiopia will halt lifesaving treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children at the end of the month. “We are at the breaking point,” it said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP
Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’
In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO
Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say
Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP
Dangers grow for Myanmar earthquake survivors, health system 'overwhelmed' - UNDP
In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN Development Programme warned on Tuesday.