Coronavirus infections continue to climb worldwide — officially at 2.5 million confirmed cases and 178,000 deaths linked to COVID-19, though the true toll is certain to be far higher. A top United Nations official warned Tuesday that governments must act immediately to prevent a “second pandemic of hunger” from economic freefall unleashed by the virus. David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme, told the U.N. Security Council Tuesday the number of hungry people worldwide could soon double to 265 million unless urgent steps are taken.

David Beasley: “There are no famines yet. But I must warn you that if we don’t prepare and act now to secure access, avoid funding shortfalls and disruptions to trade, we could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months.”