A staggering 733 million people worldwide faced hunger in 2023, according to a report released by five United Nations agencies. The “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report, launched in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, underscores the threat this poses to global efforts to eradicate hunger by 2030.
Africa is the hardest hit, with 20.4% of its population facing hunger. In Zimbabwe, the El Niño-induced drought has left over five million people in urgent need of food aid. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a state of national disaster and appealed for $3 billion in humanitarian assistance.
According to the UN report, about 582 million people will be chronically undernourished by 2030, with half of them in Africa. This alarming trend calls for immediate action to address the root causes of hunger.
Children are the worst affected by this crisis. United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund executive director Catherine Russell said, “Malnutrition affects a child’s survival, physical growth, and brain development.” She noted that global child stunting rates dropped by one-third, or 55 million, in the last two decades, showing that investments in maternal and child nutrition pay off. “We must urgently step up financing to end child malnutrition,” Russell emphasized.
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) director-general Qu Dongyu highlighted the need for transforming agrifood systems, especially in the face of climate change. “FAO remains committed to supporting countries in their efforts to eradicate hunger and ensure food security for all,” Qu said. “Together, we must innovate and collaborate to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.”
The International Fund for Agricultural Development president, Alvaro Lario, stressed that investment in agriculture, particularly in rural areas, is the fastest route out of hunger and poverty. “Ending hunger and malnutrition demands that we invest more and more smartly. We must bring new money into the system from the private sector and recapture the pandemic-era appetite for ambitious global financial reform that gets cheaper financing to the countries who need it most,” Lario said.
The World Food Programme (WFP) executive director, Cindy McCain, expressed optimism about a future free from hunger. “We have the technologies and know-how to end food insecurity, but we urgently need the funds to invest in them at scale,” McCain said. “WFP is ready to step up our collaboration with governments and partners to tackle the root causes of hunger, strengthen social safety nets, and support sustainable development so that every family can live in dignity.”
The World Health Organisation director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, echoed similar sentiments. “The progress we have made on reducing stunting and improving exclusive breastfeeding shows that the challenges we face are not insurmountable,” Tedros said. “We must use those gains as motivation to alleviate the suffering that millions of people around the world endure every day from hunger, food insecurity, unhealthy diets, and malnutrition.”
The UN report highlights an urgent need for action to address the global hunger crisis. With 733 million people facing hunger and significant numbers in Africa, there is a pressing need for investment in agrifood systems and rural agriculture. By leveraging technologies and fostering collaboration, the global community can work towards eradicating hunger and ensuring food security for all.
Source: Newsday
