U.N. food chief urges Bezos, other billionaires to step up to help world's starving

 

FILE PHOTO: The World Food Programme (WFP) Executive director David Beasley attends a news conference on the food security in Yemen at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 4, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. food chief David Beasley called on the world's billionaires on Thursday to step up to help save some 30 million people he said are at risk of dying if they don't receive help from the World Food Programme.

 

Globally some 270 million people were headed toward the brink of starvation and WFP hopes to reach 138 million people this year, Beasley told the U.N. Security Council.

 

"We need $4.9 billion to feed, for one year, all 30 million people who will die without WFP's assistance," Beasley said, noting that there are some 2,000 billionaires with a net worth of $8 trillion and several made billions during the pandemic.

 

"I am not opposed to people making money, but humanity is facing the greatest crisis any of us have seen in our lifetimes," said the former South Carolina governor.

 

The combined wealth of America's billionaires jumped over 19% or by half a trillion since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the United States, according to a report published by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in June.

 

In the 11 weeks from March 18, when lockdowns started in some U.S. states, Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos saw his wealth soar by about $36.2 billion, while Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg's fortune surged by about $30.1 billion. Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk's net worth also rose $14.1 billion.

 

"It's time for those who have the most to step up, to help those who have the least in this extraordinary time in world history," Beasley said. "The world needs you right now and it's time to do the right thing."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-18

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Aren't the problems in the countries who suffer of food shortage home - made due to corrupt politicians ore just bad ( dictorship )  management ? Let the people sort it out and and kick out their dictortors, like they did 30 years ago in Europe,

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The combined wealth of America's billionaires jumped over 19% or by half a trillion since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the United States, according to a report published by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in June.

 

In the 11 weeks from March 18, when lockdowns started in some U.S. states, Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos saw his wealth soar by about $36.2 billion, while Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg's fortune surged by about $30.1 billion. Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk's net worth also rose $14.1 billion.

kinda make you think - is it really a natural disaster? Was it really designed by China??

 

"It's time for those who have the most to step up, to help those who have the least in this extraordinary time in world history," Beasley said. "The world needs you right now and it's time to do the right thing."

 

Yeah, right, on it sir! 

Oh, no! Give up my money?!? For people to eat!

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

U.N. food chief urges Bezos, other billionaires to step up to help world's starving

Bezos?  Good luck.  He might be willing to hire them in exchange for a bowl of rice twice a day.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Oh, no! Give up my money?!? For people to eat!

maybe the un will have more success with their billionaires than prayut had with his top ten buddies in thailand

3 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Bezos?  Good luck.  He might be willing to hire them in exchange for a bowl of rice twice a day.

 

It's not that he doesn't donate to charity and such. More like that his donations are not on par with others in the same league.

 

Here's how much Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, has personally given to charity

https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-amazon-how-much-donations-charity-2019-5