FAO report: Africa is bearing the brunt of rising global hunger
The Plight of Hunger in Africa: A Call to Action
The recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a stark picture of the state of global hunger, with Africa bearing a disproportionate burden of the crisis. According to the report, the number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, marking an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic[1].
The situation in Africa is particularly dire. The continent saw an increase of 89.1 million undernourished people from 2014 to 2020, bringing the total to 281.6 million[3]. This alarming trend is a clear indication that the world is moving further away from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger by 2030.
The report highlights several key factors contributing to this increase in hunger. The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with inflation in consumer food prices, have made it increasingly difficult for many to afford a healthy diet. In 2020, nearly 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet, up by 112 million from 2019[1]. This issue is exacerbated in Africa, where the levels and trends of hunger vary significantly across subregions.
The gender gap in food insecurity also continues to widen, with 31.9 percent of women globally experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, compared to 27.6 percent of men—a gap of more than 4 percentage points[1]. This disparity underscores the need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by women in securing adequate nutrition.
The FAO report serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat hunger. Governments, international organizations, and civil society must collaborate to repurpose agricultural support, improve food security, and ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food. This is not only a moral imperative but also a critical step towards achieving global stability and prosperity.
The plight of hunger in Africa is a call to action for all of us. It is a reminder that we must work together to create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity. By investing in agriculture, supporting local food systems, and implementing policies that promote equitable access to food, we can make strides towards a world where no one goes hungry.
World hunger is increasing. This is indicated in the FAO’s annual report on food crises published this Wednesday, April 24. Last year, more than 280 million people were in a situation of acute malnutrition, or 24 million more than in 2022. Affected by conflicts, climate change, and economic shocks, three aggravating factors, Africa is not spared from the deterioration of the situation, while the continent remains shaken by serious conflicts that fuel major food insecurity.
A worker carries bags of grain at a market in Gedaref state, eastern Sudan, April 17, 2024 (illustrative photo). AFP – EBRAHIM HAMID
In Sudan, a country plunged into war for a year, 20.3 million people faced a high level of food insecurity between June and September. And what is already the biggest regional food crisis risks further deterioration.
Beyond the national territory, the war has consequences on a regional scale. The displacement of millions of civilians in the Central African Republic, Chad, and South Sudan is weakening countries already in great food difficulty.
Further south, the DRC has the most people experiencing acute food insecurity in the world, according to the report. More than 25.8 million people face it, including 2.8 million children. A phenomenon aggravated by a conflict in North Kivu.
Suppose the report published this Wednesday estimates that 2 million people could be out of acute food insecurity by June. In that case, the number should be taken with perspective, according to Aurélien Mellin, emergency and rehabilitation manager within the Organization for Agriculture and Food of the United Nations.
Alongside conflicts and instability, extreme heat waves also directly impact the food situation of populations. In Mali, where temperatures are reaching record, the meteorological phenomenon is seriously damaging agricultural harvests and available resources, a situation observed in all Sahelian countries.
And then, for the first time since the publication of the report eight years ago, Senegal is one of the countries suffering from a major food crisis. The cause: as in Mali, the climatic situation, but also price inflation. The double factor has plunged 1.3 million people into a situation of food vulnerability.
To deal with this global emergency, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for increased humanitarian funding.
