UN report reveals that approximately 282 million individuals experienced severe hunger in 2023 | Global News

Food insecurity worsened around the world in 2023, with some 282 million people suffering from acute hunger due to conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Sudan, UN agencies and development groups reported on Wednesday.

The latest global report on food crises from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) revealed that extreme weather events and economic shocks also contributed to the increase in acute food insecurity, which grew by 24 million people compared to the previous year.

The report highlighted that 2023 marked the fifth consecutive year of rises in the number of people facing acute food insecurity, with deteriorating conditions in 12 countries. Protracted major food crises are ongoing in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen.

“In a world of plenty, children are starving to death,” wrote UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the report’s foreword. He emphasized the urgent need for funding to address the crisis, especially as the costs of distributing aid have risen.

The report also pointed out that conflicts or insecurity were the main cause of acute hunger in 20 countries or territories, while extreme climatic events and economic shocks also played significant roles in pushing people into food insecurity.

Despite the bleak outlook for 2023, there were some positive developments in 17 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine. However, the report stressed that progress in addressing food insecurity would depend on ending hostilities and ensuring humanitarian access to affected areas like Gaza and Sudan.