Consider the idea of waking up uncertain of your next meal. This is a harsh reality of millions across the world. There are children missing meals, mothers skipping dinner in order for their child to eat, and entire communities struggling to fuel themselves. Food insecurity is a complex global health issue that is rooted in poverty, conflict, and inequality. In this blog post, we will explore the current state of global hunger, using data and statistics from leading health organizations.
According to the World Health Organization, “Around 733 million people face hunger in 2023, equivalent to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa”. Additionally, “Despite some progress in specific areas such as stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, an alarming number of people continue to face food insecurity and malnutrition as global hunger levels have plateaued for three consecutive years, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023—approximately 152 million more than in 2019 when considering the mid-range (733 million).”
“If current trends continue, about 582 million people will be chronically undernourished in 2030, half of them in Africa, warn the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO). This projection closely resembles the levels seen in 2015 when the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, marking a concerning stagnation in progress.”
These alarming statistics highlight a growing crisis that is affecting millions of people worldwide and requires desperate attention and efforts moving forward. Access to food is not a privilege, it is a right.
Picture source:
https://social.desa.un.org/sdn/hunger-hotspots-faowfp-early-warnings-on-acute-food-insecurity
