The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) warned on Friday that amidst the wave of Covid-19 infections and political turmoil in Southeast Asian countries, it may not have enough funds to help millions of people facing food insecurity in Myanmar in the next six months .
The World Food Programme said in a statement that it needs US$86 million to help the country fight hunger, the country is fighting the rising Covid-19 infection, and the military has removed Aung San Suu Kyi since February 1. The democratically elected government led has been in chaos since.
“We are seeing hunger spreading deeper and deeper in Myanmar,” said Stephen Anderson, the country’s director of the World Food Program in Myanmar, in a statement.
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The world’s largest humanitarian organization estimates that 6.3 million people in Myanmar will face food insecurity in the next six months, up from 2.8 million before the military takeover in February.
Anderson said: “It is vital for us to be able to reach…all those in need and get the funds needed to provide them with humanitarian assistance.”
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