WCC NEWS: Upcoming briefing will cover global food crisis and urgent response

A briefing on 25 May at 12.00-13.30 CET will feature experts who will offer crucial updates on the global food crisis as well as a summary of urgent response from faith-based group, civil society, and governments. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 20 May 2022 Experts from the UN, civil society, and churches will discuss food security with participants form the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance, regional and national councils of churches, and others working on agriculture, food, and humanitarian assistance. A question-and-answer session will offer further opportunity for input.  In all its dimensions, the war in Ukraine is producing a downward spiral effect on a world economy already battered by COVID-19 and the climate crisis, with particularly dramatic impacts on developing countries. The world's most vulnerable people are most impacted. Food prices are currently at their highest since records began 60 years ago.  Prices of food, energy, and fertiliser have rapidly risen, given the leading role of Russia and Ukraine in these markets. Apart from the misery precipitated by this situation, the risks of instability and unrest worldwide are increasing. As 811 million people go to bed hungry every night, the number of those facing acute food insecurity has more than doubled—from 135 million to 276 million—since 2019. A total of 44 million people in 38 countries are teetering on the edge of famine. The UN has formed a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance to support developed and developing countries in facing the situation. Within the group, three work streams on food, energy and finance are mandated to collate data and generate analysis, policy recommendations and solutions to support decision-making and advocacy for consideration of the steering committee.  The WCC has been invited to offer input to the Global Crisis Response Group. The key inputs will be given by the following: Dr David Nabarro, Co-lead, UN Global Crisis Response Group and Special Envoy of WHO Director General for COVID-19  Sofia Monsalve, secretary general, FIAN International, and member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems Brief inputs will be presented by: Mervyn Abrahams, Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group Rev. Nicta Lubaale, general secretary of the Organization of African Instituted Churches Katlego Mohuba, youth activist, Food For Life Campaign Sylvain Nedelec, intern, Food For Life Campaign Prof. Dr Esther Mombo, department of Theology, St Paul's University in Limuru, Kenya Registration for the Briefing on Global Crisis on Food and the crisis response See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland