Africa-Press – Eritrea. OVER 122 million people are facing hunger in the world since 2019 due to the pandemic and repeated weather shocks and conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
The report has been published jointly by five United Nations specialized agencies—Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP).
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said during the launch of the report at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday that there are rays of hope, some regions are on track to achieve some 2030 nutrition targets.
“But overall, we need an intense and immediate global effort to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals. We must build resilience against the crises and shocks that drive food insecurity-from conflict to climate,” he said.
FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu said: “Recovery from the global pandemic has been uneven, and the war in Ukraine has affected nutritious food and healthy diets.
This is the ‘new normal’ where climate change, conflict, and economic instability are pushing those on the margins even further from safety. We cannot take a business-as-usual approach.
IFAD President, Alvaro Lario said: “A world without hunger is possible. What we are missing is the investments and political will to implement solutions at scale. We can eradicate hunger if we make it a global priority.
Investments in small-scale farmers and in their adaptation to climate change, access to inputs and technologies, and access to finance to set up small agribusinesses can make a difference.
Small-scale producers are part of the solution. Properly supported, they can produce more food, diversify production, and supply both urban and rural markets – feeding rural areas and cities nutritious and locally grown food.
UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell said: “Malnutrition is a major threat to children’s survival, growth and development.
The scale of the nutrition crisis demands a stronger response focused on children, including prioritizing access to nutritious and affordable diets and essential nutrition services, protecting children and adolescents from nutrient-poor, ultra-processed foods, and strengthening food and nutrition supply chains including fortified and therapeutic foods for children.
WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain said: “Malnutrition is a major threat to children’s survival, growth and development. The scale of the nutrition crisis demands a much stronger response focused on children.
Solutions include prioritizing access to nutritious and affordable diets and essential nutrition services, protecting children and adolescents from nutrient-poor, ultra-processed foods, and strengthening food and nutrition supply chains, including fortified and therapeutic foods for children.
WHO Director-General said: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “Child wasting remains unacceptably high and there has been no progress in reducing child overweight.
We need targeted public policies, investments and actions to create healthier food environments for all. ”’
The 2023 edition of the report reveals that between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, with a mid-range of 735 million.
This represents an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. While global hunger numbers have stalled between 2021 and 2022, there are many places in the world facing deepening food crises.
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