Almost 258 million people in 58 countries faced acute food shortages last year due to conflicts, climate change, effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, according to a United Nations report, a sharp rise from 193 million the previous year.
\nThe Global Report on Food Crises, an alliance of humanitarian organisations founded by the UN and the European Union, says people faced starvation and death in seven of those countries: Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.
\nThe report found that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food aid \u2013 258 million \u2013 had increased for the fourth consecutive year, a \u201cstinging indictment of humanity\u2019s failure\u201d to implement UN goals to end world hunger, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
\n\u201cRising poverty, deepening inequalities, rampant underdevelopment, the climate crisis and natural disasters also contribute to food insecurity,\u201d Guterres said.
\nWhile the increase last year was due in part to more populations being analysed, the report also found that the severity of the problem increased as well, \u201chighlighting a concerning trend of a deterioration\u201d.
\nRein Paulsen, director of emergencies and resilience for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said an interplay of causes was driving hunger.
\nThey include conflicts, climate shocks, the effect of the pandemic and the consequences of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine which has had an effect on the global trade in fertilisers, wheat, maize and sunflower oil. The effect has been acute in the poorest countries that are dependent on food imports.
\n\u201cPrices have increased & those countries have been adversely affected,\u201d Paulsen said, calling for a \u201cparadigm shift\u201d so that more funding is spent on agricultural interventions that anticipate food crises and aim to prevent them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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