After declining for several decades, world hunger has been rising since 2016, driven by conflict and climate change.
Some 41 million people in 43 countries are at imminent risk of starvation, and nearly 600,000 others in four countries are already experiencing conditions similar to hunger, according to the World Food Program (WFP). warned.
In a statement on Tuesday, the United Nations agency said wars, climate change and economic shocks have driven rising hunger, while commodity prices are increasing existing pressures on food security. this year.
“I am heartbroken at what we face in 2021,” said David Beasley, WFP’s executive director. “We now have four countries where there are similar conditions to hunger. Meanwhile, 41 million people are literally knocking on the door of hunger.
“I am heartbroken by what we face in 2021” – @WFPChief about new data showing 4️⃣1️⃣ millions of people knocking on the door of famine. 💔
“It’s just tragic: these are real people with real names.” Read the full version ➡️ https://t.co/cXY2S23bLV. #FightFamine pic.twitter.com/uBubc6uShw
– World Food Program USA (@WFPUSA) June 22, 2021
This year there are conditions similar to famine Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan i Yemen, as well as in the pockets of Nigeria and Burkina Faso, with 584,000 affected.
But Beasley warned of “debating figures to death,” as happened in Somalia in 2011, when 130,000 people, half of the total famine, had already died when famine was declared.
WFP, funded entirely by voluntary donations, said it needs to raise $ 6 billion immediately to reach those at risk in 43 countries.
“We need funding and we need it now,” Beasley said.
Rising world food prices
After declining for several decades, world hunger has been rising since 2016, driven by conflict and climate change.
In 2019, 27 million people were on the brink of starvation, according to WFP, but since 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has been added to the mix.
World food prices rose in May to the highest levels in a decade, according to UN data, with basics such as cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar 40% higher than levels from the previous year.
According to WFP, world corn prices have risen by almost 90% year-on-year, while wheat prices have risen by almost 30% in the same period.
The depreciation of the currency in countries such as Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe adds to these pressures and causes prices to be even higher, causing food insecurity.
WFP, which received the Nobel Peace Prize last year, says that about 9 percent of the world’s population, equivalent to nearly 690 million people, go to bed hungry every night.