VOA新闻杂志--联合国：2021年的饥饿人口比以往任何时候都多

The United Nations said Wednesday that the number of people without enough food to eat daily reached an all-time high last year.

The organization noted¹ that the situation is getting worse as the war in Ukraine affects food production worldwide.

Almost 193 million people in 53 countries suffered from what the U.N. called food insecurity in 2021. It was caused by conflict, extreme weather, and the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.N. said the total number of people without enough food to eat daily increased by 40 million over the period. It confirmed a "worrisome trend" of yearly increases.

The numbers appeared in the Global Report on Food Crisis. The report is produced jointly² by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program, and the European Union.

Countries experiencing extended conflicts, including Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, had the most food-insecure populations, the report said.

The report predicts that Somalia will face one of the world's worst food crises in 2022. The African country faces prolonged drought, increasing food prices, and continuing violence. These problems could lead 6 million Somalis into a severe food crisis, the U.N. said.

"Today, if more is not done to support rural communities, the scale of the devastation³ in terms of hunger and lost livelihoods⁴ will be appalling," the U.N. said. The organization added urgent action is needed "to prevent that from happening."

The war in Ukraine has resulted in more risks for Somalia and many other African countries. They depend on Ukraine and Russia for wheat, fertilizer, and other food supplies.

Rein⁵ Paulsen heads one of the Food and Agriculture Organization's offices. He said the war in Ukraine is a "real cause for concern" and increases "the acute food needs that exist in these food crisis countries."

The U.N. previously⁶ said the war was pushing prices for grains and vegetable oils to record highs, threatening millions with hunger and malnourishment.

The report called for greater investment in agriculture and appealed for $1.5 billion to help farmers in at-risk areas. The money would help in the upcoming planting season to stabilize⁷ and increase local food production.

Words in This Story

trend –n. a general direction of change in which something is developing and becoming more common

devastation –n. great destruction

acute –adj. very serious or severe

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

3 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

5 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

6 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

7 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。