UN warns of Latin America “hunger pandemic”

The UN World Food Programme is warning that around 14 million people could go hungry in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic


Countries where UN World Food Programme (WFP) operates

Rising levels of coronavirus infections

“Dry Corridor” of Central America 
Potential increase in number of people with severe food insecurity – from over 1.6 million to almost three million

Colombia, Ecuador and Peru: Population of Venezuelan migrants with severe food insecurity could rise from 540,000 to more than one million

Haiti: Hunger could more than double, from 700,000 to 1.6 million

Venezuela
One in three people faced hunger in 2019

Brazil: Ranks second in number of coronavirus infections, behind U.S.

5.3%
Projected fall in Latin America’s GDP in 2020 – possible sharper drop than during Great Depression


Total number of people in severe food insecurity

2019 3.4m

13.7m
2020 estimate based on figures for countries where WFP operates


U.S.
Mexico
Peru 
Chile

1,000km 625 miles


Sources: Associated Press, UN World Food Programme
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