Virus Causes Severe Food Shortages in Africa
2020-04-20
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1As people in Zimbabwe suffer from hunger, police officers carried out a raid as part of new public health measures.
2They seized and destroyed three tons of fruits and vegetables by setting fire to them.
3The police were enforcing measures for fighting the new coronavirus.
4They were punishing a group of farmers who had violated restrictions on movement by bringing their produce to a busy market.
5The farmers returned home with nothing.
6Lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus have blocked many farmers from getting food to markets.
7Such measures are in effect in at least 33 African countries.
8Restrictions on movement have also threatened food aid that goes to rural populations.
9Many small, neighborhood markets where millions buy their food are closed.
10The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that nearly 250 million people in Africa did not have enough food before the coronavirus pandemic.
11That represents about 20 percent of the continent's population. Now, it is worse.
12"With lockdowns, border closures... the impact of COVID-19 on Africa could be like nothing we have seen before," said Sean Granville-Ross of the aid group Mercy Corps.
13COVID-19 is the name of the disease resulting from the virus.
14Lockdowns without systems to help the poor "may affect us very, very much," said Lola Castro.
15She is regional director in southern Africa for the U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP).
16In Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the neighborhood of Kalema is desperate.
17Many people there are hungry and very poor.
18Last week, thousands of people fought each other for food aid.
19Some people fell to the ground and were crushed by the crowd.
20The World Food Program was already feeding millions in Africa, mainly people in rural areas, because of several disasters.
21The pandemic has made things worse.
22In Sudan, U.N. officials say restrictions on movement are stopping aid workers from reaching some of the 9.2 million people in need.
23The most severe dry weather in many years is threatening about 45 million people with hunger across southern Africa.
24Somalia is struggling to get food to people living in territory controlled by extremists.
25Two months ago, Somalia's government declared a national emergency after desert insects destroyed thousands of hectares of crops.
26That left about 20 million people with severe food shortages.
27Now the insects have returned to the area.
28In the Sahel region of West Africa, nearly 30 million people are struggling to find food, said Granville-Ross of Mercy Corps.
29On top of these problems, the World Bank said the coronavirus could create "a severe food security crisis in Africa."
30Among those at risk are millions of children usually fed through the WFP's school meals program.
31A few weeks after the virus arrived in Africa, many schools closed.
32About 65 million children are now missing out on meals, the WFP told The Associated Press.
33For many Africans, the virus is not the worry, it is surviving the lockdowns.
34"Most Africans work in the informal sector and need to go out every day," said Matshidiso Moeti of the World Health Organization.
35The virus has been slow to spread in Africa.
36It has not yet experienced the large number of cases and deaths reported in parts of Europe, East Asia and the United States.
37The WFP said economies of many African countries are at risk.
38The organization said, "For many poor countries, the economic consequences will be more devastating than the disease itself."
39I'm Caty Weaver.
1As people in Zimbabwe suffer from hunger, police officers carried out a raid as part of new public health measures. They seized and destroyed three tons of fruits and vegetables by setting fire to them. 2The police were enforcing measures for fighting the new coronavirus. They were punishing a group of farmers who had violated restrictions on movement by bringing their produce to a busy market. 3The farmers returned home with nothing. 4Lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus have blocked many farmers from getting food to markets. Such measures are in effect in at least 33 African countries. Restrictions on movement have also threatened food aid that goes to rural populations. Many small, neighborhood markets where millions buy their food are closed. 5The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that nearly 250 million people in Africa did not have enough food before the coronavirus pandemic. That represents about 20 percent of the continent's population. Now, it is worse. 6"With lockdowns, border closures... the impact of COVID-19 on Africa could be like nothing we have seen before," said Sean Granville-Ross of the aid group Mercy Corps. COVID-19 is the name of the disease resulting from the virus. 7Lockdowns without systems to help the poor "may affect us very, very much," said Lola Castro. She is regional director in southern Africa for the U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP). 8In Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the neighborhood of Kalema is desperate. Many people there are hungry and very poor. Last week, thousands of people fought each other for food aid. Some people fell to the ground and were crushed by the crowd. 9The World Food Program was already feeding millions in Africa, mainly people in rural areas, because of several disasters. The pandemic has made things worse. 10In Sudan, U.N. officials say restrictions on movement are stopping aid workers from reaching some of the 9.2 million people in need. 11The most severe dry weather in many years is threatening about 45 million people with hunger across southern Africa. 12Somalia is struggling to get food to people living in territory controlled by extremists. Two months ago, Somalia's government declared a national emergency after desert insects destroyed thousands of hectares of crops. That left about 20 million people with severe food shortages. Now the insects have returned to the area. 13In the Sahel region of West Africa, nearly 30 million people are struggling to find food, said Granville-Ross of Mercy Corps. 14On top of these problems, the World Bank said the coronavirus could create "a severe food security crisis in Africa." 15Among those at risk are millions of children usually fed through the WFP's school meals program. A few weeks after the virus arrived in Africa, many schools closed. About 65 million children are now missing out on meals, the WFP told The Associated Press. 16For many Africans, the virus is not the worry, it is surviving the lockdowns. 17"Most Africans work in the informal sector and need to go out every day," said Matshidiso Moeti of the World Health Organization. 18The virus has been slow to spread in Africa. It has not yet experienced the large number of cases and deaths reported in parts of Europe, East Asia and the United States. 19The WFP said economies of many African countries are at risk. The organization said, "For many poor countries, the economic consequences will be more devastating than the disease itself." 20I'm Caty Weaver. 21The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 22________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24lockdown - n. to shut down an entire country or city 25pandemic - n. a contagious illness that crosses from one country to another 26impact - n. the way an events affects something or someone 27locust - n. a big that eats farmers' crops 28Informal sector - n. working in a part of the economy that is not official 29consequence - n. the results of an action