The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has developed an index of economic shock and food entitled ‘Economic Shock and Hunger Index.’ Based on a study of the five countries of Armenia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Zambia, and Nicaragua, the responses of households reveal a rather similar pattern: reduction in the number of meals, option for cheaper but less nutritious food, deprivation of meat, sale of livestock, loans, decline in schooling for children, and decline in healthcare.

The results further show a most logical inference and insight. According to WFP’s Executive Director Josette Sheeran, “In each of the five countries, we were alarmed that projections were for more hunger and struggling. It demonstrates that for those living on less than $2 a day, the financial crisis is accelerating hunger and the worst is yet to come.”

The study also forwards a rather uncommon finding: “The most severely affected are not necessarily the poorest of the poor, but a new category that faces a steep slide into poverty.” According to the results of the study, ‘the groups most affected by the financial crisis were unskilled workers in urban areas, families who rely on remittances from abroad, workers laid off from the export sectors and those working in mining and tourism.’

Families in Ghana, for example, are said to be receiving less cash remittances from relatives working abroad. The result is a rising inflation in the country.

The G8 summit to be held in Italy in early July will tackle food security issues. The FAO points out again the need to boost investment in agriculture. The economic crisis has overshadowed this requirement. The impact on the poorest that are mostly peasants makes it even more necessary.

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Via FAO