INVC NEWS
Geneva : The report by the United Nations on global food security is indeed concerning. It states that in the previous year, approximately 2.4 billion people did not have consistent access to food, and around 783 million individuals suffered from hunger. The report also highlights that this situation has resulted in the stunted development of 148 million children. Despite the passage of time between 2021 and 2022, there has been no significant change in the number of hungry people worldwide, but severe food crises have been experienced in various regions.
The report identifies countries in West Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa where 20 percent of the population faces hunger, which is more than double the global average. Qu Dongyi, the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, has noted that the global recovery from the pandemic has been uneven, and the conflict in Ukraine has further exacerbated the availability of nutrient-rich food and healthy diets. He describes this situation as the “new normal,” where factors such as climate change, conflict, and economic instability are pushing marginalized communities even further away from safety. The report also highlights the worsening condition of people’s access to a healthy diet worldwide.
According to the report, 42 percent of the global population, which accounts for more than 3.1 billion people, lacked access to a healthy diet in 2021. This represents an increase of 134 million people compared to 2019. The report further indicates that between 691 million and 783 million people were chronically malnourished in 2022, which is 122 million more than the pre-pandemic figures of 2019.
The findings of this report emphasize the urgent need for concerted efforts from governments, organizations, and individuals to address the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition. Collaboration is necessary to ensure equitable access to food, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and alleviate the impact of conflicts and climate change on food production.
