Global food insecurity soars as 281.6M struggle for survival

According to a recent report released by the United Nations, a staggering 281.6 million people worldwide grappled with acute hunger in 2023. This marks the fifth consecutive year of worsening food insecurity, raising significant concerns about the potential for famine and widespread loss of life. The report, jointly compiled by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), highlights a troubling trend of escalating hunger amidst global challenges.

The latest Global Report on Food Crises unveiled that over 20% of the population across 59 nations grappled with acute food insecurity in 2023. This figure represents a substantial surge compared to just one in ten people in 48 countries in 2016. Dominique Burgeon, the Director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office in Geneva, elucidated the severity of acute food insecurity, emphasizing its immediate threat to livelihoods and lives. He emphasized that this level of hunger poses a grave risk of plunging into famine, leading to widespread loss of life.

Collaboratively crafted by FAO, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the report underscored a concerning trend. While the overall percentage of individuals classified as dangerously food insecure slightly decreased by 1.2% from 2022, the issue has significantly exacerbated since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in late 2019, approximately one in six individuals across 55 countries faced alarming levels of food insecurity. However, within a year, this proportion escalated to one in five people, as per the findings of the Global Report on Food Crises.