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Food insecurity and undernourishment are deepening lately in South Asia including Nepal, according to the Global Food Policy Report-2023 prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Nepal Narayan Kaji Shrestha unveiled the report amid a function here today. According to the report, in Afghanistan, the highest 30 percent people suffer from undernourishment between 2019 and 2021 followed by 17 percent in Pakistan, 16 percent in India, 12 percent in Bangladesh, six percent in Nepal, and four percent in Sri Lanka. Likewise, during the same period, Afghanistan recorded highest around 23 percent of severe food insecurity, Nepal around 13 percent, Bangladesh approximately 11 percent, Pakistan around eight percent and Sri Lanka approximately two percent. During 2017 to 2019, Nepal witnessed slightly more than 10 percent of severe food insecurity. Similarly, the deterioration in economic conditions that took place with the pandemic led to a substantial increase in poverty, with 48-59 million people estimated to be newly poor in 2021, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine War, implications of various natural disasters, energy crisis, global rise in prices of food, petroleum products and fertilizer and political instability have been mentioned as contributors to increasing food insecurity in the entire South Asia. "The recovery and development of food systems in South Asia face multiple challenges. Although spillover effects from the Russia-Ukraine war have not been large, South Asia has been affected by the global rise in food, fuel, and fertilizer prices. Food prices have risen sharply, contributing to food insecurity. In September 2022, the year-on-year consumer inflation rate for food was 66 percent in Sri Lanka, 36 percent in Pakistan, and about 8 percent in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal," the report states. In 2022, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan had banned the exports of foodstuffs mainly rice, wheat and sugar due to high inflation and food shortage. According to the report, the inflation in Pakistan and Sri Lanka is attributed mainly to macroeconomic instability and mismanagement, especially the sharp devaluation of their currencies, and the fertilizer ban in Sri Lanka. The report identifies climate change as one of the reasons behind falling agricultural production in many countries. "Threats from climate change loom especially large for many countries, especially those in Africa. Climate change is rapidly intensifying, increasing pressure on food systems, rural livelihoods, and ecosystems more broadly. While some places may benefit from a longer growing season amid rising temperatures, changing weather patterns and advancing desertification have reduced the average growth in agricultural productivity by as much as 21 percent since 1961." Disruption in the food supplies chain and unmanaged migrations are noted as also the reasons for increasing food insecurity. The document emphasizes better prediction, preparation, and resilience building to make future crises less devastating.  

The Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives directed the government to collect detailed information about the people affected by floods and landslides and ensure that relief and compensation reach the affected families. A meeting of the Committee today expressed sorrow over the loss of valuable lives in the recent incidents of natural disasters that occurred in various parts of the country. The meeting has instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to undertake prompt rescue operations for the injured, and to address the immediate requirements of food and shelter for the affected people. The meeting headed by Committee President Laalbir Chaudhary directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to immediately repair the damaged structures meant for people's movement and transport such as roads and bridges. It is worth noting that Taplejung, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, and Tehrathum districts in the Koshi Province have been severely affected by recent floods and landslides, resulting in both human and physical losses. The committee's directive came on the same backdrop.  

Twelve people, who were trapped in a landslide at Yangwarak Yangwarak Rural Municipality-1 in Panchthar, have been successfully rescued by a Nepal Army Helicopter. They have been relocated at the local Bishnu Secondary School. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hari Khatiwada, they had been trapped in the disaster since Saturday night. They are Naramaya Gurung (60) Sandeep Gurung (16), Hima Gurung (9) Krishna Bahadur Gurung (80), Dikmaya Gurung (60), Kajuhang Gurung (35), Sunita Gurung ()30, Man Bahadur Gurung (43), Man Kumari Gurung (44) and Sushma Gurung (16).  

A father and his son were killed in a landslide at Mehele in Sidingwa Rural Municipality of Taplejung district on Monday. Suresh Rai (36) died in the landslide while his 67-year-old father Keshav Bahadur Rai, who had gone missing since the disaster occurred this morning, was found dead later, according to the District Police Office, Taplejung. Kusaram Karki, Information Officer and Police Inspector at the District Police Office, Taplejung, confirmed the death of the father-son duo in the landslide at Muku Bhangyanj of Mehele. Similarly, preparations are underway to airlift Raj Kumar Rai (45) who was seriously hurt in the disaster, said Karki. Various districts in the eastern part of the country have been hit hard by monsoon-induced natural disasters such as flood and landslide due to incessant rain since the arrival of this year's monsoon on June 15. Meanwhile, three people have been out of contact in Sidingwa in the district. The trio were learned to have been stranded and sheltering in a cave following the flood. They are Denish Gurung (23) and his spouse Anita Rai and their two-and- a-half-year-old daughter of Surumkhim of Sidingwa Rural Municipality. A Nepal Army helicopter was flown for the rescue operation of the missing ones on last Sunday but to no avail due to adverse weather, informed Laxman Tamang, ward chairperson of ward no 7 in Sidingwa rural municipality. Rescue operation continues today as well, according to Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, a parliamentarian from Taplejung.