العربية
Published on July 24, 2024
The fight against global hunger has been significantly set back, with around 733 million people experiencing hunger in 2023—equivalent to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa, according to the latest UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. This alarming trend suggests that progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Zero Hunger by 2030 is severely off track.
Key Findings:
- Hunger Statistics: Between 713 million and 757 million people were undernourished in 2023, an increase of about 152 million since 2019.
- Regional Disparities: Africa is the hardest hit, with 20.4% of its population facing hunger, while Asia remains stable at 8.1%. Latin America has seen slight improvements but still faces significant challenges.
- Drivers of Hunger: Conflict, climate extremes, and economic downturns are the primary drivers of hunger, particularly in Africa.
- Food Insecurity: In 2023, approximately 2.33 billion people globally were moderately or severely food insecure, nearly matching the numbers seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Economic Barriers: A staggering 2.8 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, with stark contrasts between high-income and low-income countries.
Progress and Challenges:
Despite some advances, such as increased exclusive breastfeeding rates and a slight reduction in stunting among children under five, global hunger levels have remained static for three consecutive years. Moreover, adult obesity continues to rise, projected to affect over 1.2 billion adults by 2030.
COVID-19 Impact:
The pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity, particularly in low-income countries. By 2022, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet reached its highest level since 2017 in these regions, highlighting the widening inequality caused by COVID-19.
Call to Action:
The report emphasizes the need for increased, cost-effective financing and a standardized approach to food security and nutrition. Transforming agrifood systems, addressing inequalities, and making healthy diets affordable and accessible are critical to achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. UN agency heads stress that substantial investment is necessary to close the financing gap and enhance global food security efforts.
FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero highlights the urgency: “We need to understand that our agri-food systems are under increasing risk and uncertainty due to climate change…donors must adopt greater risk tolerance to activate effective finance.”
For more detailed insights, visit the original report on the United Nations website