17 July 2023
By: Nico van Burick
The number of people worldwide experiencing hunger has increased by 122 million since 2019.
About 735 million people are suffering from hunger worldwide, compared with 613 million in 2019, says a new United Nations report. It attributes the increase to the Covid-19 pandemic, weather conditions, and conflicts such as the war in Ukraine.
The 20% increase in hunger is revealed in a research report on global food security and nutrition compiled by five UN agencies: the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), the World Health Organisation, and the World Food Programme.
If the trend continues, it says, the sustainable development goal of ending famine by 2030 will not be achieved.
Since 2019, hunger has eased in Asia and Latin American countries, but it has worsened in all regions of Africa, western parts of Asia and the Caribbean islands.
The worst-affected continent is Africa, where one in five people – twice the global average – do not have enough to eat.
UN secretary-general António Guterres said in a video message at the report’s release in New York that there are signs of hope that the 2030 target can be achieved.
“However, an actual and immediate international effort is needed to save the sustainable development goals. We must build resilience against crises, from conflict to climate, which cause food insecurity.”
According to the report, 29.6% of the world population – about 2.4 billion people – did not always have access to food in 2022. About 900 million people experienced severe food insecurity.
The number of people with the ability to access a healthy diet also decreased globally. More than 3.1 billion people (42%) could not afford a healthy diet in 2021. This was an increase of 134 million compared to 2019.
Millions of children under the age of five suffered from malnutrition, and in 2022 the growth of 148 million children (22.3%) was hindered by malnutrition.
The report also examines the influence of increasing urbanisation on how and what people eat. With nearly seven out of 10 people likely to live in cities by 2050, governments and everyone working to promote food security must consider this in policy formulation, it says.
Purchases and consumption of processed food are increasing in rural areas, but inequalities persist. Food insecurity has a greater impact on rural people. Moderate or severe food insecurity affects 33% of adults in rural areas and 26% in urban areas.
The report recommends a thorough understanding of the complex and changing relationships between rural and urban areas and their food systems. This is so the right policy interventions and investments can be made to promote food security and nutrition.