According to the United Nations, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have led to a significant increase in global hunger, with the number of people going hungry rising by 122 million to a total of 735 million since 2019. A new report warns that if current trends continue, by 2030, nearly 600 million people will suffer from chronic undernourishment, which is 119 million more than if these events had not occurred. While global hunger levels have stabilized after a sharp increase from 2019 to 2020, hunger is still on the rise in western Asia, the Caribbean, and across Africa, as stated in a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and four other UN bodies.
Qu Dongyu, the director general of the FAO, remarks that the recovery from the pandemic has been uneven, with the war in Ukraine further exacerbating the issue. He describes this as the “new normal,” where climate change, conflict, and economic instability are pushing vulnerable populations even further into insecurity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a major producer of wheat, maize, and sunflower oil, has resulted in a steep global rise in food prices.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report for 2023 illustrates a world grappling with a widespread and urgent food crisis. In 2022, approximately 900 million people, equivalent to 11.3% of the global population, suffered from severe food insecurity, which is defined as running out of food or going without eating for an entire day during the year. Furthermore, nearly one in three people, or 2.4 billion individuals, lacked constant access to food. The report also highlights the alarming number of malnourished children, with 45 million under the age of five experiencing wasting and 148 million displaying stunted growth and development.
Maximo Torero, the FAO’s chief economist and the main author of the report, warns that while the climate crisis did not impact hunger levels in 2022 as much as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, its long-term effects will be severe. He emphasizes that the global food system is plagued by significant risks and uncertainties, making it highly vulnerable. Torero specifically mentions the concentrated exporting production of cereals in only a few countries, stating that any climate shock to these countries would lead to a rise in food prices.
Oxfam’s policy lead, Pauline Chetcuti, criticizes governments for allowing billions of people to go hungry despite an abundance of resources. While food and energy companies saw their profits double, almost a third of the world’s population experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. Countries in West Africa are particularly affected due to the combination of the climate crisis, regional conflicts, and the skyrocketing food prices resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as noted by the British Red Cross.
To address these challenges, global cooperation and sustainable strategies are crucial. The joint publication of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report involved the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization. These organizations play a vital role in understanding and combating the growing issue of global hunger.
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