Food Insecurity in its Entirety
The issue of food insecurity is a major issue on an international and national scale and is interlinked with the issue of climate change. Food insecurity is an economic and social condition in which households lack basic and nutritious food necessities. Food insecurity occurs in two mains being chronic and transitory. Chronic food insecurity occurs over a long period as caused by a lack of financial resources and poverty. Transitory food insecurity is a temporary condition that is caused by a shortage of food. The role of government is to ensure food security is sustained through stability. According to the United Nations Human Rights, the right to food was recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then was specifically the Right to Adequate Food in 1996 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
The Case of South Africa and Food Insecurity
Economic instability poses a great threat to the right to food which intersects with other rights such as the right to healthcare. A country that is increasingly affected by food insecurity is South Africa. Food security is a second-generation right that emerged post World War II as a mechanism to sustain equality in societies. South Africa is one of the most unequal countries on an international scale and has a Gini Index of 63. The inequality in South Africa has caused a dire situation of food insecurity in South Africa. The poorest of society are likely to experience food insecurity to a greater extent. Due to South Africa’s racial history, it is likely to occur that people belonging to previously disadvantaged groups are likely to experience food insecurity. This is in addition caused by the disadvantage of geographical location in rural areas and townships.
Food Security, Climate Change, Covid-19 and Healthcare
Food insecurity is a contributing factor to the increasing statistics of exacerbated anxiety and depression. Therefore, making it a major healthcare issue. Persons who experience food insecurity are 1.7 more likely to experience anxiety. A linkage between physical healthcare and food insecurity is the risk of acquiring health diseases such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism. In young children, increased cases of malnutrition are a dominant trait of food insecurity due to a lack of nutrients. A major risk to the general livelihood of people is food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic caused increased debt in many countries and inflation as a result. This has left many economies with the task of recovering from the dire consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. A factor of food insecurity as a cause is climate change with the risk of drought in some areas.
Conclusion
The reality of the issue of food insecurity has risen in our modern context. This poses a threat to the current and coming generations. This places a great responsibility on both individuals, all governments, businesses, NGO’s, NPO’s, and various institutions. Finding solutions to food security is a powerful tool for eradicating poverty.
