By 2020, as many as 811 million people (about one-tenth of the global population) will be undernourished.
According to the United Nations, the number of hungry people in the world surged last year, surpassing the rate of population growth, and may reach the highest level since 2005 because the Covid-19 pandemic suppressed income and access to food.
The United Nations said in a report on Monday that as many as 811 million people (about one-tenth of the global population) will be malnourished in 2020. The agency stated that the world will now make a “huge” effort to fulfill its pledge to eradicate hunger by 2030, and once again called for changes in the food system.
The aftermath of the pandemic has made healthy food even more remote for many people. Food prices have soared to their highest level in the past decade this year, which is especially bad news for poorer countries that rely on imports. Conflict, climate change and economic recession-the main drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition-continue to increase in frequency and intensity, and occur simultaneously more frequently.
The United Nations said in the report: “Although 2020 is a huge challenge for the world, if more decisive action is not taken to change direction, it may also be a warning of impending unwelcome events.”
According to United Nations data, between 720 million and 811 million people were malnourished last year. Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic’s impact, the United Nations used a median value of 768 million. Most of them are in Asia. Approximately one-third of people cannot get enough food. This number has increased by 320 million from a year ago, which is about the sum of the previous five years.
The report is the first global assessment of food insecurity after the Covid-19 crisis. It was jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Program, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization.
Other highlights of the report
- Malnutrition remains a challenge. Among children, 22% of children under five are stunted, 6.7% are too thin, and 5.7% are overweight-these numbers may be even higher once the effects of the pandemic are fully understood.
- For every 10 food insecure men, there are 11 food insecure women.
- The report outlines policies that can improve access to healthy diets, including authorities intervening in the supply chain to reduce nutritious food costs, social protection measures, and helping farmers cope with climate issues.
