Food relief organization's worrying announcement: One out of every eleven individuals currently facing hunger crisis
In a concerning development, the number of people affected by chronic hunger worldwide has increased significantly, with approximately 733 million people currently struggling to meet their basic food needs. This increase is largely attributed to reduced aid funding, a situation partly caused by budget cuts in major donor countries like the United States and Germany.
The United Nations and related agencies have reported that hunger levels have stagnated or worsened since 2019. In 2023, an estimated 713 to 757 million people are affected by hunger, a significant rise from previous years. This alarming trend is particularly evident in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is one of the worst Mogge, a representative from Welthungerhilfe, has seen in over 30 years. Mogge expressed shock at the current situation, highlighting the high cost of basic food items. For instance, 25 kilograms of wheat now costs over 500 US dollars in the Gaza Strip.
Welthungerhilfe, a German non-governmental organisation, is working tirelessly to support local farmers by providing better seeds or transitioning them to other agricultural methods. However, the organisation faces challenges, including a shortage of fuel for a water desalination plant, which often cannot reach the plant due to bombardments and evacuations.
In 2020, Welthungerhilfe received 86.5 million euros in donations and 291.9 million euros from governments or other institutions. Despite this, funding for food security and rural development has been reduced by 18 percent this year. The organisation's president, Marlehn Thieme, warned that cuts to funding can lead to hunger, displacement, or death for millions.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has an operational need of US$16.9 billion to aid 123 million vulnerable food-insecure people in 2025. However, funding shortfalls, exacerbated by cuts in key donor countries, hinder efforts to meet this target. As a result, acute hunger now affects 343 million people globally, with 1.9 million at the brink of famine in crisis zones such as Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
The consequences of reduced aid funds are far-reaching. They include rising numbers of people facing moderate to severe food insecurity, more regions experiencing famine or food crises, increased child malnutrition and related deaths, and greater challenges in fighting hunger-related barriers to development.
The urgency for renewed and expanded funding commitments to prevent worsening humanitarian crises and support vulnerable populations effectively cannot be overstated. The global community must come together to address this pressing issue and ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to live a healthy and productive life.
[1] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2023. Global Humanitarian Overview. [Online]. Available: https://www.unocha.org/global-humanitarian-overview
[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/en/
[3] World Health Organization (WHO), 2023. Global Nutrition Report 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.globalnutritionreport.org/
[4] United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 2023. The State of the World's Children 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-the-worlds-children-2023
[5] World Food Programme (WFP), 2023. Hunger Hotspots 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.wfp.org/hunger/hotspots
- In light of the increasing number of people suffering from hunger worldwide, there is a call for comprehensive economic and social policy reforms that prioritize food security and nutrition, moving beyond just general news.
- As science and technology advance, it is crucial to incorporate their solutions into policy-and-legislation, particularly in health-and-wellness, to address issues like malnutrition and improve overall food security.
- With budget cuts in major donor countries and growing concerns about worsening hunger levels, it is essential for politics to prioritize the allocation of funds for humanitarian aid and policy-and-legislation that supports food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.
