The international community is far from achieving its goal of eradicating hunger by 2030, according to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The report reveals alarming statistics, highlighting the urgent need for action to combat global hunger.
Alarming Hunger Statistics
In 2023, approximately 733 million people, or one in 11 globally, faced hunger. The situation is even more dire in Africa, where one in five people experienced hunger. The report indicates that the current levels of undernourishment are comparable to those seen in 2008-2009, effectively reversing 15 years of progress.
"Between 713 million and 757 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition and facing hunger. That's the equivalent of one in 11 people going hungry in the world," said Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the FAO.
Regional Disparities in Hunger
The report highlights significant regional disparities in hunger trends. In Africa and Latin America, hunger is on the rise, while in Asia, the situation remains relatively stable.
"South America has highly developed social protection programs that enable them to target interventions effectively, helping them quickly reduce hunger," said Torero. "We haven't seen that in Africa. They still lack the institutional capacity to deliver well-targeted social protection programs."
Contributing Factors to Food Insecurity
Several factors contribute to worsening food insecurity and malnutrition, including persistent food price inflation, conflict, climate change, and economic downturns. These issues have exacerbated the struggle for access to adequate food for billions of people worldwide.
Future Projections and Challenges
If current trends continue, approximately 582 million people will be chronically malnourished by 2030, with half of them in Africa. The report also emphasizes that access to adequate food remains difficult for billions. In 2023, around 2.33 billion people worldwide faced moderate or severe food insecurity, a number that has remained relatively unchanged since a sharp increase in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Need for Affordable and Healthy Diets
A critical issue highlighted in the report is the lack of affordable access to healthy diets, which affects more than a third of the world's population. Ensuring that nutritious food is accessible and affordable is essential for tackling the global hunger crisis.
The UN's FAO report serves as a stark reminder of the challenges the world faces in eradicating hunger by 2030. Addressing the root causes of food insecurity, such as economic instability, climate change, and inadequate social protection programs, is crucial for making meaningful progress towards this goal.
Source: Euronews
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