An Action Against Hunger worker at the De Martini quarantine hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Coronavirus

The impact of Covid-19 means 132 million more people around the world could face hunger.

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting nearly every person on the planet, in almost every country.

While the threat of Covid-19 continues, measures to stop the spread of the virus could lead to even greater levels of hunger as food becomes even harder to access.

Poor communities rarely benefit from state support and most rely on a hand-to-mouth existence provided by cash-in-hand work. Many will not have savings, and if they’re unable to earn money because of the economic crisis and lockdown restrictions, they will quite literally have nothing to eat.

People living in crowded camps, like Syrian refugees in Jordan or Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, are already some of the most vulnerable people in the world.  They struggle to access basic medical care, nutritious food, clean water or soap, all vital to protecting themselves from Covid-19. With little space for social distancing, this makes them particularly vulnerable to coronavirus.

SomaliaAction Against Hunger staff at De Martini hospital, the only quarantine centre in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Somalia

Action Against Hunger’s teams are helping to save lives at De Martini hospital, the only quarantine centre in the country’s capital Mogadishu.

Inside the quarantine hospital

Why good nutrition is important to help save lives from coronavirus

Good nutrition and a healthy diet are essential to building a strong immune system – and while the world waits for the rollout of an effective and affordable vaccine, a strong immune system is people’s first line of defence.

Ensuring people have a healthy, nutritious diet means they’re less likely to become ill. This reduces the strain on a country’s health system, making them better prepared for coronavirus and future disease outbreaks.

YemenBahaa, an Action Against Hunger member of staff in Yemen.

Yemen

Years of conflict and fighting make countries like Yemen more vulnerable to diseases like coronavirus.

Dealing with Covid-19
South SudanDr David Gai Zakayo treats a patient at Action Against Hunger health centre in South Sudan.

South Sudan

Dr David Gai Zakayo is an Action Against Hunger roving medical doctor in South Sudan. He explains the work he's doing in the country to deal with the new threat from the coronavirus.

Doctors are like soldiers

How we’re responding to coronavirus

Covid-19 is going to have a catastrophic impact on the world’s most vulnerable people. That’s why our teams are working hard to help communities respond to the virus.

Here are some examples of our response to the pandemic:

  • Yemen: Despite travel restrictions, our teams have continued their life-saving programmes treating children for malnutrition. In the health facilities and villages we support, we have taken steps to reduce coronavirus cases through awareness-raising campaigns, installation of handwashing stations and improving the water supply.
  • Bangladesh: We’re working with the local government to provide hygiene kits and install handwashing stations in vulnerable communities in Cox’s Bazar, including Rohingya people living in refugee camps.
  • Jordan: We’re supporting Syrian refugees with cleaning supplies, hygiene kits and handwashing facilities.
  • Ethiopia: We’re directly supporting six hospitals, 92 health centres and 429 health posts across five regions. We’re also sourcing critical medical supplies and working with rapid response teams to prepare for an increase in coronavirus cases.
CameroonSamuel, an Action Against Hunger contact tracer in Cameroon.

Cameroon

How frontline workers are preventing the spread of coronavirus through contact tracing in the country’s capital Yaoundé.

Scaling up our work

Why hunger?

Conflict

South Sudanese refugees supported by an Action Against Hunger member of staff.

Most people facing hunger and malnutrition in the world today can be found in countries affected by conflict.

The biggest driver of hunger

Climate crisis

Mamadou prays as the first rains of the year arrive in Mauritania.

Rising temperatures and extreme weather will have a huge impact on already vulnerable communities.

No longer a future threat

Gender

A group of women supported by Action Against Hunger in Ethiopia.

Hunger affects everyone differently. But around the world, women and girls are most at risk of becoming malnourished.

Why gender matters