Global Report on Food Crises 2019

In 2018, 113 million people in 53 countries were affected by acute food insecurity, down from 124 million in 2017. In the previous three years, however, the number of people suffering food emergencies has remained well over 100 million, and the number of nations impacted has increased.

High Levels Of Food Insecurity

Six years ago, the world was in a very different position when it pledged to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and all types of malnutrition by 2030.

We were hopeful at the time that using revolutionary techniques, previous advances might be expedited at scale, putting us on track to meet that target.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) has exposed a sobering reality in the last four editions.

The world has not made significant progress in ensuring that all people have access to secure, nutritious, and adequate food throughout the year (SDG Target 2.1) or eradicating all types of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2).

Between 720 and 811 million people will be malnourished in 2020

Under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people impacted by hunger worldwide grew in 2020. After maintaining nearly stable from 2014 to 2019, the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) increased to roughly 9.9% in 2020, up from 8.4% the previous year.

In terms of population, it is anticipated that between 720 and 811 million people in the globe will be hungry in 2020, taking into account additional statistical uncertainty. According to the midpoint of the estimated range (768 million), 118 million more people would be hungry in 2020 than in 2019 – or as many as 161 million if the top end of the range is taken into account.

increased collaboration to end conflicts

Experts have expressed concern about the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global food security.

According to UN projections, between 720 million and 811 million people throughout the world would be hungry in 2020, or around one in ten.

Global food insecurity is exacerbated by COVID-19, climate change, and conflict.

“Conflict and hunger are inextricably linked; when one worsens, the other typically follows.” The poorest and most vulnerable people are the ones who suffer the most in any crisis, and in our globalised society, the effects of this war will be felt across continents.”

These are the remarks of Gilbert Houngbo, the former Prime Minister of Togo who is currently the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) of the United Nations (IFAD).

What is the condition of global food security right now?

The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a toll on global food systems – and the world’s capacity to feed its 7.9 billion inhabitants — after just two years.

Hunger eradication is the second of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be met by 2030.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FOOD SECURITY?

Hunger and food insecurity have a variety of causes that differ by nation, but they are often caused by conflict, poverty, economic shocks like hyperinflation and rising commodity prices, and natural shocks like floods or drought.

COVID-19 has also exacerbated global poverty and inequality since lockdowns have wreaked havoc on families’ livelihoods. Pandemic restrictions have caused food shortages in many countries, slowed remittances from family members abroad, and halted school meal programmes. Food price increases are also putting a strain on household budgets, with the poorest households being the worst impacted.

According to the United Nations, 928 million people were extremely food insecure last year, up 148 million from the year before. This equates to one out of every eight persons on the planet.

CONFLICT

Conflict is the leading source of hunger worldwide, accounting for 65 percent of people suffering from severe food insecurity. Prolonged warfare damages livelihoods and pushes families to abandon their homes from Mali to Syria to Mozambique, leaving many children, particularly girls, hungry.

Global food crisis to maintain the hygiene

New shocks from climate change, conflict, pests (such as locusts and the Fall Army Worm), and infectious diseases (such as COVID-19 and African Swine Fever) are wreaking havoc on food production, disrupting supply chains, and putting people’s ability to access nutritious and affordable food under strain, raising new concerns about food security in 2020.

Improving access to clean and nutritious food–as well as guaranteeing food security in times of crisis–is critical to assuring future generations’ chances. Children who receive adequate nutrition throughout their first 1,000 days of life have a 33 percent higher chance of escaping poverty as adults. Despite this, 151 million children under the age of five are still malnourished. This is a huge loss in terms of human and economic potential.

Conclusion

The Global Report on Food Crises is usually recognised as the most up-to-date source for global acute hunger estimates. The Food Security Information Network, which brings together 15 of the world’s top global and regional organisations, was created it as a public good.

Acute food insecurity afflicted 113 million people in 53 countries in 2018, down from 124 million in 2017. However, in the past three years, the number of people facing food insecurity has remained well above 100 million, and the number of countries affected has grown.