Ending global hunger by 2030 would cost $93 billion annually – less than 1% of the $21.9 trillion spent on military budgets in the past decade, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).Yet by 2026, an estimated 318 million people will face crisis-level hunger or worse – more than double the 2019 figure. Last year alone, 295 million people suffered acute hunger, up 14 million from the previous year.Speaking at the UN Security Council, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned that food has become a weapon of war, with armed conflict now the main driver of hunger in nearly every hotspot. She criticised the prioritisation of military spending over ending hunger, saying: “Families are paying the price for wars they did not start and decisions made in rooms where their voices are never heard.”WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain called simultaneous famines in Gaza and parts of Sudan “completely unacceptable in the 21st century” and stressed that proven, innovative solutions exist – but require far greater funding and political will.In 2026, WFP plans to reach 110 million of the most vulnerable people with emergency aid, nutrition, and resilience programmes at a cost of $13 billion – a fraction of global military expenditure.
Day: November 20, 2025
-
An anti-migrant group called Operation Dudula is stopping foreigners from accessing public health clinics in South Africa.
An anti-migrant group called Operation Dudula is stopping foreigners from accessing public health clinics in South Africa.
In South Africa, the anti-migrant vigilante group Operation Dudula (“push out by force”) has begun blocking foreigners from entering public health clinics, particularly in Gauteng province. Members, often in military-style uniforms, demand South African ID documents at clinic entrances and turn away those without them, including pregnant women and sick children, directing them to costly private facilities. The Johannesburg High Court has declared these actions unlawful and ordered the group to stop. South Africa’s government and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi insist that public healthcare is legally available to everyone, regardless of documentation or nationality. Despite the ruling and official condemnation, Operation Dudula’s support is growing amid high unemployment (over 31%) and longstanding anti-immigrant sentiment. The group, which previously targeted foreign-owned shops and schools, says it will appeal the court decision. Human rights organizations and anti-xenophobia activists condemn the vigilante checks as illegal, noting that even some South African citizens lack proper ID. Police have made occasional arrests, but security at clinics remains limited. South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy, hosts around 2.4 million foreign nationals (about 4% of its population) and deported nearly 47,000 undocumented migrants last year. The targeting of healthcare access marks a new escalation in the country’s recurring waves of anti-migrant tension.
#southafricanews
#africanews
#prtimesafrica
#operationdudula