Iran Press/ Africa: Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa said that the viral respiratory disease could hamper efforts to address the endemic hunger and malnutrition crisis in the continent.
"COVID-19 is unfolding in Africa against a backdrop of worrying levels of hunger and undernourishment, which could worsen as the virus threatens livelihoods and household economies," Moeti in a statement issued in Nairobi.
"Hunger and malnutrition heighten vulnerability to diseases, the consequences of which could be far-reaching if not properly addressed," she added.
WHO statistics indicate that one in five people in Africa is undernourished while 30 percent of children under five years in the continent have stunted growth.
The UN health agency acknowledged there is limited research on malnutrition and COVID-19 fatalities but stressed that individuals with a weak immune system due to severe undernourishment are likely to be severely affected by the virus.
Nearly 73 million people are currently food insecure in Sub-Saharan Africa as desert locust invasion combined with climatic shocks devastate key staples like maize.
According to WHO, COVID-19 has escalated food shortages in Africa as containment measures like lockdowns, curfews, and physical distancing hampers the storage, processing, and transportation of food.
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