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Acute food insecurity and malnutrition continue to rise, marking an alarming increase for the sixth consecutive year in the six most vulnerable regions of the world, according to a recently released report. Over 295 million people in 53 countries and territories faced critical hunger conditions in 2024, representing nearly 14 million more than the previous year.
Particularly concerning is the doubling of the number of people facing catastrophic hunger, reaching a record figure of 1.9 million, the highest since this phenomenon began being tracked in 2016 by various UN agencies. Several factors are driving this increase, including armed conflicts, economic crises, extreme weather events, and forced displacements.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, emphasized that the report is a discouraging reflection of how the world is veering off course and warned about the drastic reduction in humanitarian funding. “Hunger in the 21st century is indefensible,” Guterres stated.
Conflicts are identified as the main cause of food insecurity, affecting approximately 140 million people in 20 nations. A famine has been confirmed in Sudan, with other critical areas including the Gaza Strip and South Sudan. Additionally, economic crises, exacerbated by inflation and the devaluation of currencies, have led 15 countries to face hunger situations impacting 59.4 million people.
In Latin America, nearly 20 million individuals suffer from acute food insecurity, with six countries in crisis: Haiti, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and migrant communities in Ecuador. Haiti stands out as the most affected, with nearly half of its population in critical food conditions.
The lack of funding is another concerning aspect, with humanitarian funding expected to decrease by 45%, which could hinder responses to the food crisis. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, expressed her concern, noting that the lack of resources is affecting all aspects of food distribution.
In this context, new strategies are proposed, including investing in local food systems and nutrition services to strengthen resilience, especially in crisis-prone regions. The FAO advocates for greater investment in sustainable agriculture, a measure considered more effective than traditional food aid, although it currently represents only 3% of the available humanitarian funds.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
