Food was distributed to desperate Palestinians.
Nearly 282 million people in 59 countries and territories were acutely hungry in 2023, an increase of 24 million from the previous year, according to the Global Food Crisis Report released today. One of the main reasons for the rise in hunger numbers is the sharp deterioration in food security in places such as the Gaza Strip and the Sudan.
The Global Report on Food Crises is jointly published by the European Union, FAO, IFAD, UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Bank and the World Food Programme. For the fourth year in a row, the proportion of people facing acute food insecurity has remained high, well above pre-COVID levels, according to the report.
The report shows that children and women are bearing the brunt of these hunger crises, with more than 36 million children under the age of 5 in 32 countries experiencing acute malnutrition.
Chronic hunger
Since 2016, 36 countries have experienced years of acute hunger, accounting for 80 percent of the world's most hungry people, according to the report.
In addition, the number of people facing acute food insecurity emergencies in 39 countries and territories increased by 1 million, with Sudan seeing the largest increase.
By 2023, more than 705,000 people will be at catastrophic levels of food insecurity and at risk of hunger – the highest since the Global Food Crises Report was published in 2016 and a fourfold increase from the original number, according to the report. Eighty per cent of people living in imminent famine came from Gaza, followed by South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Mali.
The total population at catastrophic levels of food insecurity and at risk of hunger is projected to reach nearly 1.3 million by July 2024, including about 1.1 million in Gaza and 79,000 in South Sudan.
Key drivers
Increasing conflict and insecurity, the impact of economic shocks, and the impact of extreme weather events are continuing to exacerbate acute food insecurity, the report notes. These interconnected drivers are exacerbating food system fragility, rural marginalization, poor governance and inequality, and leading to mass displacement of the global population.
The report shows that conflict remains the main driver affecting 20 countries, where nearly 135 million people are acutely food insecure, accounting for almost half of the world's population.
Extreme weather events constitute a major driver in 18 countries, where more than 77 million people face acute food insecurity, according to the report. In 2023, the world experienced its hottest year on record, with climate-related shocks such as severe floods, storms, droughts, wildfires, and pest and disease outbreaks having a huge impact on the world.
According to the report's analysis, 21 countries suffered economic shocks due to their high dependence on imported food and agricultural inputs, as well as ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including currency depreciation, high prices and debt levels.
Break the cycle of food insecurity
The report notes that tackling the ongoing food crisis requires urgent, long-term national and international investments to transform food systems and boost agriculture and rural development, while strengthening crisis preparedness and critical life-saving assistance at scale where people need it most. The report argues that promoting peace and adopting preventive strategies must also be an integral part of long-term food systems transformation.
Since 2023, demand has outstripped available resources, the report said. Humanitarian operations are now overwhelmed, with many being forced to scale back and further cut support to the most vulnerable. The report stresses the need for fairer and more effective global economic governance.
