Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on household food insecurity

Evidence from the United Arab Emirates

Bibliographic Data

ID21296327
AuthorsBeshir M Ali (0000-0002-5865-8468, Wageningen University & Research, corresponding author), Ioannis Manikas (0000-0002-4084-1651, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague), Balan Sundarakani (0000-0002-3510-8746, University of Wollongong in Dubai)
Year2024
Volume126
Issue13
Pages625-642
Publication date2024-12-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Food Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-070X • E-ISSN: 1758-4108
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/bfj-09-2023-0836
OpenAlexW4404196410
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

Purpose The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during May 2021 to June 2022, and to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household food insecurity. Design/methodology/approach This study measured the prevalence of household food insecurity in UAE during May 2021 to June 2022 by employing FAO’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on household food security was evaluated by employing a truncated regression model, using survey data from 504 respondents. Findings About 34% of the households were found to be food secure. About 22% of them experienced moderate or severe food insecurity (i.e. have eaten less than they thought should have) whereas almost none have experienced severe food insecurity during the sample period. The truncated model results show that households’ region of residence, livelihood source, education level, income and number of elderlies have a significant association with the probability of experiencing food insecurity. The pandemic-induced unemployment and disruptions in physical access to food positively associated with the probability of experiencing food insecurity. Social implications It is critical to regularly monitor households’ food security status, and design strategies that explicitly consider the food security status of UAE’s significant expat population; most of whom are migrant manual labourers earning low wages, are less job-secured and have poorer access to health care. Originality/value Although several studies assessed the impact of the pandemic on food security in different countries, there is a lack of studies assessing the impact of the pandemic on food security in the import-dependent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, whose food security might be severely impacted due to the COVID-19-induced global food supply chain disruptions. Our application of the truncated regression model also contributes to the food security literature

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Agriculture · Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Economics · Environmental health · Food insecurity · Food security · Geography · Infectious disease (medical specialty) · Outbreak · Pandemic · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) · Socioeconomics · Agricultural risk and resilience · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Virology

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