Background on Key Figures and Context
The United Nations (UN) released a report on Friday detailing the alarming rise in global hunger, with acute food insecurity and child malnutrition increasing for the sixth consecutive year. In 2024, over 295 million people in 53 countries and territories experienced these issues, marking a 5% increase from 2023 levels.
Who is Relevant?
Rein Paulsen, Director of Emergency and Resilience at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a UN agency, highlighted the dire situation in the report. Meanwhile, Cindy McCain, director of the World Food Programme based in Rome, warned about the consequences of reduced humanitarian aid from the United States.
Why is This Relevant?
The UN report identifies conflicts, extreme weather conditions, and economic crises as the primary factors driving this humanitarian crisis. These issues often overlap, exacerbating the severity of food insecurity worldwide.
Key Factors Driving the Crisis
- Conflicts: The main cause of hunger in 2024, affecting nearly 140 million people across 20 countries. These areas faced “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity, including Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali. Sudan has confirmed famine conditions.
- Economic Crises: Inflation and currency devaluation pushed 59.4 million people into crisis levels of food insecurity across 15 countries, nearly double the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. These countries include Syria and Yemen.
- Extreme Weather Conditions: Severe weather events, such as droughts and floods caused by El Niño, affected 18 countries and impacted over 96 million people, particularly in Southern Africa, South Asia, and the Horn of Africa.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The number of people facing famine-like conditions more than doubled to reach 1.9 million, the highest figure since tracking began in 2016. Child malnutrition reached alarming levels, with nearly 38 million children under five suffering acute malnutrition in 26 crisis situations, including Sudan, Yemen, Mali, and Gaza.
Forced displacement further intensified the hunger crisis, with 95 million forcibly displaced people (refugees and internally displaced persons) living in countries experiencing food crises, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.
Positive Developments in 2024
Despite the grim overall trend, there were some positive developments in 2024. In 15 countries, including Ukraine, Kenya, and Guatemala, food insecurity decreased due to humanitarian aid, improved harvests, reduced inflation, and diminished conflicts.
Recommendations for Breaking the Cycle of Hunger
The UN report calls for investment in local food systems. Paulsen emphasized that supporting local agriculture can help more people with dignity and at lower costs.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What caused the global hunger crisis in 2024? A: Conflicts, extreme weather conditions, and economic crises were the primary factors driving this humanitarian crisis.
- Q: How many people were affected by hunger in 2024? A: Over 295 million people in 53 countries and territories experienced acute food insecurity and child malnutrition.
- Q: What role did conflicts play in the crisis? A: Conflicts affected nearly 140 million people across 20 countries, with areas facing “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity.
- Q: How did economic crises contribute to the situation? A: Inflation and currency devaluation pushed 59.4 million people into crisis levels of food insecurity across 15 countries.
- Q: What impact did extreme weather conditions have? A: Severe weather events, such as droughts and floods caused by El Niño, affected 18 countries and impacted over 96 million people.
- Q: How many people faced famine-like conditions in 2024? A: The number of people facing famine-like conditions more than doubled to reach 1.9 million, the highest figure since tracking began in 2016.
- Q: What actions are recommended to break the cycle of hunger? A: The UN report recommends investing in local food systems and supporting local agriculture.
