World Told Act Now or Face 136 Years of Famine, Report Warns – Global Issues
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Oct 15 (IPS) – World Food Day 2024
High levels of hunger will continue for another 136 years in many developing countries, according to a new global hunger report.
The report, Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, paints a grim picture, predicting that global hunger levels will remain high for another century. If more progress is made to end hunger, it will continue to reverse many of the gains of development. The report blames the combined problems of civil unrest, climate change, high food prices and rising debt, all of which deprive billions of people of the right to access enough food.
Hunger Here to Stay
Published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, on October 10, 2024, the GHI reveals that at least 64 countries are unlikely to reach low levels of hunger until 2160 if the current pace of change continues.
Famine is at critical or alarming levels in 42 countries, with conflicts exacerbating food crises in places like Gaza and Sudan, where famine is already rife in North Darfur, the report found.
Now in its 19th year, the GHI ranks countries based on recorded rates of malnutrition, child disability, child wasting and child mortality. Of the 136 countries surveyed, 36 are facing severe hunger, while the bottom six on the list—Somalia, Yemen, Chad, Madagascar, Burundi, and South Sudan—have alarming levels of hunger. In 2023 alone, 281.6 million people in 59 countries and regions faced crisis-level or acute food insecurity, including Gaza, Sudan, Haiti and Burkina Faso.
The report warns that there is little chance of achieving the UN’s goal of ending hunger by 2030.
The CEO of Concern Worldwide, David Regan, described the situation as disappointing that the 2030 goal is no longer achievable.
“Our response must be to intensify our recovery efforts,” Regan told IPS. “We need global action to fight hunger.”
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the regions most affected by famine. According to the GHI, about 22 countries in Africa are facing severe hunger. Of the top ten countries that are cited as having terrible hunger, five are in Africa.
Conflicts, Climate Change and Fuel Famine in High Debt
Large-scale armed conflicts, climate change, high food prices, market disruptions, economic collapse, and debt problems in many low- and middle-income countries have combined to complicate efforts to reduce hunger, the report said.
“The conflict can only be resolved when the external actors who fuel the conflict, move away from using the conflict to gain resources or increase the instability of the most fragile states,” Regan told IPS. “Climate change will not stop until those involved in the production of large amounts of gas reduce it. It is not possible to say that the human right to food is respected worldwide when powerful countries are obviously not playing their role in solving its causes.”
Regan criticized rich countries for not participating in the fight against hunger in the world, saying that although he has not turned his back on the issue, political interest in solving hunger has decreased in recent years.
The report goes on to note that more than 115 million people around the world are homeless—some have been forced to move due to persecution, conflict violence and many more displaced by climate-related disasters.
The wars in Gaza and Sudan have led to food crises, the report says, signaling growing inequality between and within countries. Although extreme poverty in middle-income countries has declined, income inequality remains high, and poverty in the poorest countries is worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gender Equality, Key to Food Security
The report also draws attention to the link between gender inequality, food insecurity, and climate change, noting that these factors together have put communities and countries under enormous pressure.
“Governments must invest and promote gender equality and climate change and recognize and deliver the right to food so that all people can ensure the right to food,” said Regan.
Ahead of World Food Day, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has joined the call for urgent action to end hunger and ensure that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.
World Food Day is under the theme The right to a better life and a better futurewho emphasizes the urgency of providing diverse and healthy food for all.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu noted that 730 million people are facing hunger due to global challenges caused by man-made and natural disasters. Besides, more than 2.8 billion people in the world cannot afford healthy food.
“There is no time to lose, we must take immediate action, we must work together,” urged Dongyu, reiterating that the right to food is a basic human right.
IPS UN Bureau Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
