View previous stories
	Unsustainable debt has always impeded development by ESCR-Net members Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, agencies   Apr. 2022   The ability of governments to provide basic public services, and ensure the fulfillment of economic, social, and cultural rights has been increasingly hampered by indebtedness; leaving them virtually unable to respond to major crises. Powerful countries that control international financial institutions, like the IMF, can allow these economies to meaningfully respond; they just need the will.   For centuries, and due to colonial legacies of inequality, Global South governments have been indebted to powerful actors. In 1825, France forced a newly-independent Haiti to pay between 20 and 30 billion of today’s US dollars in compensation to the French slave-owners it had overthrown less than two decades prior. It took the country 122 years to honor that crippling debt, leaving what used to be the most lucrative colony on earth unable to develop basic health and education infrastructure. Haiti never managed to get out of that debt spiral: in 2019, it spent over three times more on repaying its debts than on social services.   But this is far from being an isolated case. In 2019, 64 low and middle-income countries spent more on debt service than on healthcare(link is external); with 25 countries (one in eight!) spending more on repaying loans than on education, health, and social protection combined(link is external).   Loan conditionalities put in place by international financial institutions (IFIs) like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also forced developing countries to implement drastic austerity measures and cuts to social expenditure. This effectively dismantled their public health sector and left them unable to cope with major crises and health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic.   In early 2020, South Sudan had only four ventilators for its 11 million population. The year prior, it had spent over 11 times more on debt service than on social services.   The impacts of debt have been felt similarly in the Global South. The COVID-induced recession forced many developing countries to take out more loans, further building up their debts. According to the World Bank, the debt burden of more than 70 low-income nations increased by a record 12% to USD 860 billion in 2020.   In 2022, the poorest countries will still face USD 35 billion in bilateral and private debt-service payments – a 45% increase from 2021. Although most countries responded to COVID-19 by indebting themselves, the crippling effect of this coping strategy will be most felt by the developing world. Many African, Latin American and some Middle Eastern countries commonly pay more than 10% interest on their loans while richer nations can pay 1% or less.   In September 2021, a study led by the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies found that over 100 countries were at risk of harsh fiscal consolidation by the mid-2020s, which will likely translate into further cuts to social expenditure. Trapped in this cycle of debt, developing countries will continue to prioritize debt servicing over public services; while loan conditionalities will continue to cause further economic decline and loss of national autonomy.   Within the context of multiple and intersecting crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disaster, crises of democracy, and natural disasters, the need to cancel debt is more urgent than ever. However, efforts in that sense have stalled.   In November 2020, the G-20 launched the Common Framework, a debt reduction program to reorganize the debt of countries in danger of default. However, the European Network for Debt and Development warned that the initiative failed to deliver on debt cancellation, and will ultimately force the countries in need to implement painful austerity measures to meet unpayable creditor claims.   Worse, the G-20 failed to require the mandatory participation of the IMF, the World Bank, and other multilateral development banks, as well as the private sector--whose share of the foreign debts of low and lower-middle-income countries increased from 25% in 2010 to 47% in 2018-in debt relief efforts. Over a year later, no progress has been made. Only three out of about 70 eligible countries have applied; Ethiopia had its credit rating cut just for doing so.   More ambitious action is therefore needed to break this harmful cycle of debt, including through extensive debt cancellations and restructuring in a way that does not hamper the beneficiaries’ ability to develop strong public services. Countries that have the most control over IFIs must abide by this reality and empower these institutions to play a leading role in that process, including by abandoning loan conditionalities that promote austerity.   The private sector has made it clear that it would not participate willingly in debt relief efforts: from May 2020 to December 2021, only one private creditor took part in a G-20 initiative to temporarily suspend debt repayments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Binding international mechanisms should therefore be put in place to ensure its compulsory participation. For too long, unsustainable debt has been holding the Global South back. It is time to break the cycle.   http://www.escr-net.org/news/2022/opinion-unsustainable-debt-has-always-impeded-development-its-time-write-it http://www.gi-escr.org/ http://jubileedebt.org.uk/press-release/growing-debt-crisis-to-worsen-with-interest-rate-rises http://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/14/imf/world-bank-targeted-safety-net-programs-fall-short-rights-protection http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/imf-must-abandon-demands-austerity-cost-living-crisis-drives-hunger-and-poverty http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-5899.13028
	Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture by UN Food and Agriculture Organization   Dec. 2021   Countries requiring external assistance for food - Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture   Countries in crisis requiring external assistance for food are expected to lack the resources to deal with reported critical problems of food insecurity. The list below covers crises related to lack of food availability, widespread lack of access to food, or severe but localized problems.   Central African Republic   According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, the number of severely food insecure people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above is estimated at 2.1 million between September 2021 and March 2022, due to high levels of civil insecurity. A ceasefire declaration by the president in October could initiate a de-escalation of the conflict.   Kenya   About 2.4 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure between November 2021 and January 2022, reflecting consecutive poor rainy seasons since late 2020 that affected crop and livestock production, mainly in northern and eastern pastoral, agropastoral and marginal agricultural areas.   Niger   According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, about 2.58 million people are assessed to need humanitarian food assistance between October and December 2021 due to the increase in security incidents that have disrupted agricultural and marketing activities, diminishing households’ livelihood opportunities.   An estimated 280 000 people have been displaced in Diffa, Tahoua and Tillabery regions due to the civil conflicts, as of September 2021. In addition, the country hosts 250 000 refugees, mainly from Nigeria and Mali.   In addition, domestic cereal production is forecast to fall to a below-average level in 2021, due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict, which is expected to further aggravate conditions. As a result, between June and August 2022, 3.64 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   Somalia   About 3.5 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure, IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) between October and December 2021, mainly as a result of consecutive poor rainy seasons since late 2020, which severely affected crop and livestock production, and due to heightened conflict since early 2021.   Burundi   About 1.04 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between June and September 2021, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by the rising water level of Lake Tanganyika and the overflow of the Rusizi River, which displaced about 40 000 people in Bujumbura Rural, Bujumbura Mairie, Rumonge and Makamba provinces.   Chad   According to the latest CH analysis, about 965 000 people are estimated to be in CH Phase 3 (Crisis) and above between October and December 2021 due to persisting insecurity in Lac and Tibesti regions that continues to disrupt livelihood activities and to cause population displacements.   About 400 000 people were displaced due to insecurity in the Lake Chad Region, as of August 2021. In addition, 520 000 refugees mostly from the Central African Republic, Nigeria and the Sudan reside in the country due to conflicts.   In addition, domestic cereal production is anticipated to fall to a below-average level in 2021, due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict. As a result, between June and August 2022, 1.74 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   Democratic Republic of the Congo   According to the November 2021 IPC analysis, 27 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure between September and December 2021, about 6 million of which are experiencing critical levels of acute food insecurity, IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). This is due to persisting conflict in eastern provinces, which continues to cause displacements, coupled with the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Djibouti   About 194 000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure between January and August 2021, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by floods and landslides, and as a result of the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of vulnerable households.   Eritrea   Macro-economic challenges have increased the population's vulnerability to food insecurity   Ethiopia   About 7.4 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between July and September 2021 in western and central cereal deficit areas in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and SNNP regions. Particular concern exists for the Tigray Region where about 400 000 people are estimated to face IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) levels of food insecurity due to the impact of the conflict that started in November 2020.   Nigeria   According to the latest CH analysis, about 12.9 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian food assistance between October and December 2021 because of the worsening conflict that is driving new population displacements, particularly in northern states, high food prices and reduced household purchasing power. Over 3 million people are estimated to be internally displaced in northern states due to civil insecurity and natural disasters. The areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food insecurity conditions.   In the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 18 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   South Sudan   Despite sustained humanitarian assistance, food insecurity still affects large segments of the population, driven by insufficient food supplies, an economic downturn, high food prices and the lingering impact of widespread floods in 2020. About 7.2 million people (approximately 60 percent of the total population) were estimated to be severely food insecure between April and July 2021.   Particular concern exists for households in Jonglei, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Warrap states, and in neighbouring Pibor Administrative Area, where 60 to 85 percent of the population were estimated to be severely food insecure, with a total of 108 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) levels of food insecurity.   Zimbabwe   An estimated 3 million people are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance between January and March 2022, largely on account of poor food access due to prevailing high food prices and reduced incomes owing to the effects of an economic downturn. This number is, however, lower than the figure in the same period in 2021, as a substantial cereal harvest boosted households’ food supplies.   Burkina Faso   According to the latest CH analysis, 1.65 million people are estimated to be food insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance between October and December 2021. In Centre-Nord and Sahel regions, insecurity continues to cause population displacements and, as of September 2021, about 1.4 million people have been displaced and require assistance. In addition, about 24 000 refugees, mostly from Mali, are residing in Sahel Region.   In addition, domestic cereal production is forecast to fall to a below-average level in 2021, due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict, which is expected to further aggravate conditions. In the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 2.6 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   Cameroon   According to the October 2021 CH analysis, about 2.4 million people areprojected to be severely food insecure, CH Phase 3 (Crisis) or above, between October and December 2021. This is mainly the result of conflict, socio‑political unrest and COVID‑19-related economic shocks.   About 42 percent of the severely food insecure people are in Northwest and Southwest regions, and, as of October 2021, over 1 million people were internally displaced in the country.   Congo   As of October 2021, about 28 800 refugees from the Central African Republic and 32 500 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo were residing in the country. Host communities face food shortages and limited livelihood opportunities, and refugees’ food security is essentially dependent on continued humanitarian assistance.   In addition, about 304 400 people were internally displaced as of September 2021.   Eswatini   An estimated 316 000 people are assessed to be food insecure between October 2021 and March 2022, down from 347 000 between January and March 2021. The improvement reflects the positive effects of an above‑average harvest in 2021, although households continue to face food access constraints, largely underpinned by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.   Guinea   About 565 000 people were projected to be in need of food assistance between October and December 2021, primarily due to food access constraints on account of the effects of the pandemic. About 740 000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the upcoming June to August 2022 period. In addition, about 6 000 refugees, mostly from Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone, are residing in the country.   Lesotho   The number of people projected to be food insecure between January and March 2022 is estimated at 312 000, nearly half the figure estimated in 2021 for the same period. The improved outlook rests mostly on the upturn in domestic cereal production in 2021 that bolstered households’ cereal supplies. However, the slow economic recovery continues to impose constraints on households’ incomes, impinging on their economic capacity to access food.   Liberia   According to the latest CH analysis, about 940 000 people were estimated to be in CH Phase 3 (Crisis) and above between June and August 2021 due to high food inflation rates and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. The country is also hosting approximately 8 500 refugees that require assistance.   Libya   The 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview states that 1.3 million people (23 percent of the population) need humanitarian assistance, of which 0.7 million require food assistance. Half of the people in need of humanitarian assistance are internally displaced or migrants that are residing in, or transiting through, the country.   Madagascar   An estimated 1.3 million people are food insecure in southern regions and require urgent humanitarian assistance.   The effects of a severe drought on agricultural production in 2021 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the loss of incomes due to the economic slowdown, are the key drivers of food insecurity.   Malawi   An estimated 1.5 million people are food insecure between October 2021 and March 2022. This number is well below the estimate for the period between January and March 2021, when 2.6 million people were assessed to be in need of humanitarian assistance.   The improved conditions are attributed to the large 2021 cereal harvest that helped to partly mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Mali   According to the latest CH analysis, about 1.17 million people are estimated to be in CH Phase 3 (Crisis) and above between October and December 2021 as a result of the escalation of the conflict that continued to cause population displacements, combined with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and weather shocks.   About 400 000 people have been displaced, mostly in central and northern parts of the country. In addition, the country hosts approximately 47 000 refugees, mostly from the Niger, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.   In addition, domestic cereal production is forecast to fall in 2021, but still remain near the five-year average, due to increased conflict and unconducive weather conditions. Consequently, between June and August 2022, 1.84 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   Mauritania   According to the latest CH analysis, about 348 000 people are assessed to be in need of humanitarian assistance between October and December 2021 as a result of cereal and livestock production shortfalls, and reduced incomes owing to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.   About 75 000 refugees, mostly from Mali require humanitarian assistance. In addition, domestic cereal production is forecast to fall in 2021, but still remain near the five-year average due to unconducive weather, which is likely to aggravate conditions of the most vulnerable households. In the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 660 000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity.   Mozambique   An estimated 1.7 million people required humanitarian assistance until September 2021, and this number is expected to rise moderately until the next harvest period from March 2022, as households exhaust supplies of food from their harvests.   Populations in Cabo Delgado are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity, where an estimated 363 000 people are facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above levels of food insecurity, reflecting the impacts of the conflict and rainfall deficits that adversely affected cereal production in 2021.   Namibia   Food security conditions have improved in 2021 compared to the previous year, however, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily income and job losses, continue to constrain households’ access to food.   Senegal   According to the latest CH analysis, about 305 000 people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance between October and December 2021, mostly reflecting localized production shortfalls due to the effects of adverse weather events on cereal production and reduced incomes of the most vulnerable households on account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 770 000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the June to August 2022 period, reflecting persisting food access constraints.   An estimated 14 500 refugees, mostly from Mauritania, require humanitarian assistance.   Sierra Leone   About 1.1 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure between October and December 2021 on account of high food prices and low purchasing power, resulting in acute constraints on households’ economic access to food. About 1.45 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the upcoming June to August 2022 period, reflecting persisting food access constraints.   Sudan   The number of severely food insecure people is estimated at 6 million between October 2021 and February 2022, mainly due to soaring food prices and intercommunal conflict.   Uganda   In Karamoja Region, about 188 000 people (16 percent of the population) are estimated to be severely food insecure between August 2021 and January 2022, mainly as a result of consecutive rainy seasons characterized by erratic rains which adversely affected crop and livestock production.   About 1 million refugees from South Sudan and about 482 000 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are hosted in camps and rely on humanitarian assistance.   United Republic of Tanzania   About 500 000 people were estimated to be in need of emergency assistance between May and September 2020, mainly in northeastern Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions and in central Dodoma and Singida regions.   Zambia   An estimated 1.58 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance between October 2021 and March 2022, down from 2 million assessed to be food insecure in the corresponding period in 2020/21. The large agricultural output in 2021 is the main driver of the improved situation, however, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that are constraining households’ economic access to food and localized shortfalls in crop production have limited a larger improvement.   Syrian Arab Republic   A nationwide food security assessment estimated that about 12.4 million people (60 percent of the overall population) were food insecure in 2020, 5.4 million more than at the end of 2019, mostly due to constrained livelihood opportunities and a rapidly worsening economy.   Although some international food assistance is being provided, Syrian refugees are also pressuring host communities' resources in neighbouring countries.   Democratic People's Republic of Korea   A large portion of the population suffers from low levels of food consumption and very poor dietary diversity.   The persisting economic constraints, exacerbated by restrictive measures to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, have significantly reduced imports, including critical agricultural inputs and humanitarian goods, increasing the population’s vulnerability to food insecurity.   The harvest of the 2021 main season is expected to have reached households in October/November leading to transitory improvements in food security.   Lebanon   In September 2021, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia estimated that, taking into account dimensions other than income, such as access to health, education and public utilities, 82 percent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty in 2021, up from 42 percent in 2019.   Yemen   The number of food insecure, IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above, was projected to increase by nearly 3 million people to 16.2 million between January and June 2021. Out of these, an estimated 11 million people were in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 5 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and the number of those in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) likely increased to 47 000.   Afghanistan   Between September and October  2021, about 19 million people were estimated in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). The IPC analysis, estimated that between November 2021 and March 2022, the number of people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) is likely to increase to 22.8 million.   Bangladesh   Food insecurity and poverty levels have increased due to income losses caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.   According to the latest figures from UNHCR (September 2021), about 903 000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were sheltering in Bangladesh, mainly in Cox’s Bazar District.   Iraq   The 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview identified 4.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, of which 2.4 million have acute humanitarian needs. The number of severely food insecure people is estimated at about 435 000, while 731 000 are vulnerable to food insecurity.   Myanmar   The political crisis, following the military take-over on 1 February 2021, caused increased tensions and unrest throughout the country resulting in new waves of population displacement. According to the latest figures from UNHCR (September 2021) following the military take-over, an additional 176 000 people were displaced, adding to the existing 370 000 IDPs (as of December 2020). Most of the IDPs reside in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin and Shan states. The current uncertain political situation may further compromise the fragile conditions of vulnerable households and the Rohingya IDPs residing in the country.   Income losses due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the food security situation of vulnerable households.   Pakistan   The country hosts close to 1.4 million registered and approximately 0.6 million unregistered Afghan refugees. Most of these people are in need of humanitarian assistance and are straining the already limited resources of the host communities. Following the Taliban’s take-over of Afghanistan, this number reportedly increased, adding additional pressure on the already difficult food insecurity conditions of the host community.   Poverty levels have increased due to losses of income-generating opportunities owing to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.   Prices of wheat flour, the country’s main staple, were at record or near-record levels in most markets in October 2021, constraining access.   Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)   The total number of refugees and migrants from the country is estimated at 5.9 million, with the largest populations located in Colombia (1.74 million), Peru (1.29 million), Ecuador (483 000) and Chile (448 000). Humanitarian needs for refugees and migrants are significant. Food insecurity situations of migrants reportedly worsened due to losses of income-generating opportunities in the host countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The expected slow recovery of the host countries’ economies is likely to only marginally restore the livelihoods of migrants.   According to the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), the number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants (including in-transit and temporary) in need of food assistance is estimated at 3.26 million in 2021.   Haiti   About 4.3 million people were estimated to be facing severe acute food insecurity and are in need of urgent food assistance until at least February 2022. The high levels of food insecurity are the result of reduced cereal outputs between 2018 and 2021 and elevated food prices, exacerbated by income losses amid the COVID-19 pandemic and socio‑political turmoil. Two natural disasters (a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and a tropical storm) that struck in August, destroyed productive assets and infrastructure, and caused losses of stored food, further aggravating conditions. In these areas, the number of people in acute food insecurity is estimated at 980 000 between September 2021 and February 2022, up from 932 000.   http://www.fao.org/giews/country-analysis/external-assistance/en/ http://www.fao.org/giews/en/   * FAO and WFP are issuing an early warning for urgent humanitarian action in 20 countries and situations – called "hunger hotspots" – where parts of the population are likely to face a significant deterioration of acute food insecurity in the coming months that will put their lives and livelihoods at risk: http://bit.ly/3syz6ma Visit the related web page
	View more stories