UN Report: A year of epidemic marked by rising world hunger | Hunger Stories

The number of undernourished people reached about 768 million, according to a report by several UN agencies.

Global hunger and malnutrition intensified in the past year, with a sharp increase due to the COVID-19 epidemic, according to a United Nations (UN) report released Monday.

The number of undernourished people has risen to about 768 million – equivalent to 10 percent of the world’s population and an increase of about 118 million compared to 2019, says a report published by UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Unfortunately, the epidemic continues to expose the weaknesses of our food system, which threatens the lives and lives of people around the world. No area of ​​the world has survived, “the leaders of five UN agencies wrote in an earlier statement this year, warning of a” critical time “.

With more than half of the undernourished people (418 million) living in Asia, Africa represents the highest jump in crime – more than twice as many as in any other region – at 21 percent of the population. More than half of the continent’s population – 282 million – say they have no food, the report said.

Of the victims, children remain the highest paid earnings, the report went on, with more than 149 million people under the age of five estimated to grow up with a high income.

The goal of sustainable development of the UN

The report, an initial assessment of food shortages and food shortages since the outbreak began in December 2019, states that hunger is spreading worldwide even before the epidemic, leading to food shortages and conflicts, economic stagnation, and bad weather.

The 2021 edition of “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” predicts that in the current context, the UN’s sustainable development goal of hunger by 2030 will be lost by about 660 million people.

That number is 30 million more than the plague never occurred.

“Our great fears have been fulfilled. Ending such a famine can take years or even decades, “said WFP economist Arif Husain.

The report urged policy-makers to take a number of measures to prevent food shortages, such as the integration of practical, development and peace-building policies in conflict zones; strengthening the resilience of those most at risk of economic hardship; and tackling poverty and mechanical inequality.

After a decline over the years, food shortages have been on the rise since the mid-2010s, particularly in countries affected by conflict, climate change, economic instability, or the struggle against extreme inequality.

This increase last year was however the same as five years ago inclusive.