Number of People Facing Acute Hunger Increased by 33% in the Last Year
Nearly 258 million people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity in 2022, according to the 2023 Global Report on Food Crises, released on May 2. This figure grew by 65 million people compared to the previous year – an alarming 33% increase. Action Against Hunger calls on the global community to take immediate action.
Hunger has been rising steadily around the world for four consecutive years, according to the report produced by an international alliance working to address the root causes of extreme hunger, which includes United Nations agencies and others. Of the 258 million people facing food insecurity around the world, more than 40% live in just five countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Yemen.
“These figures clearly demonstrate that we are in the midst of a hunger catastrophe. For the fourth year in a row, the number of acutely hungry people is rising, driven by climate change, economic shocks, and wars and conflicts. The international community must act urgently now to prevent millions of people from dying of hunger,” says Michelle Brown, Associate Director of Advocacy for Action Against Hunger.
In 30 of the 58 crisis countries studied in the report, more than 35 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition, of whom, 9.2 million face severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of hunger. Girls and women are disproportionately affected by hunger.
The ripple effects of the conflict in Ukraine continues to exacerbate the global food crisis, with both Ukraine and Russia playing a major role in the production and trade of staple foods such as wheat, maize, and sunflower oil, as well as fuel. The war has severely disrupted agricultural production and trade, impacting countries around the world that depend on food imports to feed their people. Across all the countries surveyed in the report, food prices have risen significantly – by more than 10% in 38 out of 58 countries.
“The global community can and must do more to prevent food crises from becoming hunger catastrophes,” says Brown. “At the first signs of a looming threat, early action saves lives and money. We urge greater investments to protect food security and prevent hunger around the world.”
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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