While countries such as Brazil and Argentina may be known as the breadbaskets of South America, the Latin America and Caribbean, or LAC, region is far from immune to the effects of the food crisis and desperately needs donor assistance, according to the World Food Programme.
“Every day I hear that LAC is not being prioritized by the donors, but we are already nearly at 10 million people who are food insecure in the region. More are joining the ranks of the hungry every day,” WFP’s LAC Regional Director Lola Castro told Devex.
Castro said she is facing a $300 million budget deficit this year, leaving her team struggling to help countries combat soaring food and fuel prices, which have triggered huge spikes in migration, gang violence, and falling school attendance, alongside increased hunger and malnutrition.