Worst Famine in Gaza: UN Report Reveals 282 Million People Faced Acute Hunger in 2023

In a shocking revelation, the Global Report on Food Crises released on Wednesday highlighted that nearly 282 million people in 59 countries suffered from acute hunger in 2023. The report pointed out that war-torn Gaza had the largest number of people facing famine, with over 80% of those at risk located in the region.

The U.N. report indicated that 24 million more people faced an acute lack of food compared to the previous year, with a significant deterioration in food security observed in Gaza and Sudan. Máximo Torero, chief economist for the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, noted that 705,000 people in five countries were at Phase 5, the highest level of hunger, marking a drastic increase since the report’s inception in 2016.

The outlook for the future is grim, with projections suggesting that around 1.1 million people in Gaza and 79,000 in South Sudan could be facing famine by July. The impact of conflicts, natural disasters like the El Nino phenomenon, and inadequate funding were cited as key factors contributing to the escalating crisis.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the report as a “roll call of human failings” and emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive response to address the underlying causes of acute hunger and malnutrition. The report serves as a wake-up call to the international community to prioritize efforts to combat food insecurity and ensure access to essential resources for those in need.