by Shenggen Fan
Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
October 21, 2014 –Washington, D.C.
While the health impacts of Ebola are devastating, this recent outbreak is triggering a food crisis that may persist for decades, posing significant challenges not just for food security in West Africa, but also for future economic growth. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were already experiencing food security issues before the outbreak, and undernourishment has long been a problem. Now, schools in these countries have closed, shutting down critical feeding programs for children.
The costs of staple foods – including rice and cassava – are rising precipitously in the affected areas as farms are abandoned and as labor shortages grow. In addition, imported food is not making its way to rural areas due to restrictions on movement and rising transportation costs. So, as we cope with the health dangers of this dreaded disease, we must not forget the very real threats it poses to food security. The global community must come together to ensure that there are strategic food reserves and safety nets to protect not only those infected with the disease, but also those whose access to food is severely affected.
For more information, see Shenggen Fan’s recent DG Corner blog post here.