Each year, nearly 160 million people are impacted by natural disasters. During a natural disaster, every second counts to save lives and to ensure that critical supplies reach those in need.

Governments and partners across the Asia-Pacific region are acting to protect citizens from Coronavirus disease –2019 (COVID-19). These crucial efforts will save many lives. However, measures needed to slow the transmission of the disease are resulting in hardship for many vulnerable families.

Background As the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to spread, WFP Country Offices (COs) must be aware of the potential implications of the outbreak for WFP operations.

Eighteen countries are at risk of plunging further into crises that pose serious threats to people’s food security and livelihoods, according to an updated report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

Cambodia has made great strides towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 but needs to do more to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

Namibia experienced significant rainfall deficits during the 2019 agricultural season, leading to below-average harvests in cereal-producing areas, particularlynorthern Namibia’s Omusati, Oshana, and Oshikoto regions, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports.

According to the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Bangladesh falls into the serious category, ranked 86th out of 119 countries.

Some 6.5 million people in South Sudan - more than half of the population - could be in acute food insecurity at the height of this hunger season (May-July), three United Nations agencies warned.