Oil-Rich Billionaires And States Needed To Avoid“Hell On Earth

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UNITED NATIONS- Without billions of dollars more to feed millions of hungry people, the world will see mass migration, destabilized countries, and starving children and adults in the next 12 to 18 months, the head of the Nobel prize-winning U.N. World Food Program warned Friday.

David Beasley praised increased funding from the United States and Germany last year, and urged China, Gulf nations, billionaires and other countries“to step up big time.”

In an interview before he hands the reins of the world's largest humanitarian organization to U.S. ambassador Cindy McCain next week, the former South Carolina governor said he's“extremely worried” that WFP won't raise about $23 billion it needs this year to help millions of needy people, I'll be surprised if we get 40%,” he said.

Last year, Beasley raised $14.2 billion for WFP, more than double the $6 billion in 2017, the year he took over as executive director.

Beasley said he was able to convince the United States last year to increase its funding from about $3.5 billion to $7.4 billion and Germany to raise its contribution from $350 million a few years ago to $1.7 billion.

Other countries need to step up now, he said, starting with China, the world's second-largest economy which gave WFP just $11 million last year.

Beasley applauded China for its success in substantially reducing hunger and poverty at home, but, China needs“to engage in the multilateral world” and be willing to provide help that is critical, he said.

Beasley said they've done“an incredible job of feeding their people,” and“now we need their help in other parts of the world” on how they did it.

With high oil prices, Gulf countries can also do more, especially Muslim nations that have relations with countries in East Africa, the Sahara, and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Beasley said the wealthiest billionaires made unprecedented profits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and“it's not too much to ask some of the multibillionaires to step up and help us in the short-term crisis,”.

In the long-term, he said what he'd really like to see is billionaires using their experience and success to engage“in the world's greatest need – and that is food to feed 8 billion people.”

Mass migration
“The world has to understand that the next 12 to 18 months is critical, and if we back off the funding, you will have mass migration, and you will have destabilization nations and that will all be on top of starvation among children and people around the world.”

Beasley said WFP was just forced to cut rations by 50% to 4 million people in Afghanistan, and“these are people who are knocking on famine's door now.”

“We don't have enough money just to reach the most vulnerable people now,” he said.“So we are in a crisis over the cliff stage right now, where we literally could have hell on earth if we're not very careful.”

Beasley said he's been telling leaders in the West and Europe that while they're focusing everything on Ukraine and Russia,“you better not forget about what's south and southeast of you because I can assure you it is coming your way if you don't pay attention and get on top of it.”

The WFP executive director said leaders have to prioritize the humanitarian needs that are going to have the greatest impact on stability in societies around the world.

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