A new report indicates that food insecurity worsened globally in 2023, with approximately 282 million people experiencing acute hunger, primarily due to conflicts in regions such as Gaza and Sudan. United Nations agencies and development organizations attribute this increase to factors like extreme weather events and economic shocks, which collectively added 24 million more people to the ranks of the food insecure compared to the previous year. The report, produced by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and released on Wednesday, paints a bleak picture for the global outlook this year. It is compiled by an international alliance comprising UN agencies, the European Union, and various governmental and non-governmental entities.
2023 marked the fifth consecutive year of rising acute food insecurity, with the expansion of geographic coverage in the report and deteriorating conditions in 12 countries contributing to the increase. The report highlights the emergence of new or intensified shocks in various regions, particularly noting a significant deterioration in areas like Sudan and the Gaza Strip. Maximo Torero, chief economist at the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), emphasized that humanitarian relief efforts face challenges not only in terms of resources but also in accessing conflict-affected areas, which raises safety concerns and logistical complexities.
In Gaza, where conflict has exacerbated food insecurity, approximately 1.1 million people were on the brink of starvation in 2023, including 600,000 in Gaza alone. Since 2016, the number of food-insecure individuals globally has more than doubled from 108 million to 282 million, with the affected population within these areas doubling from 11% to 22%, according to Fleur Wouterse, deputy director of the emergencies office at FAO.
Protracted food crises persist in countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the urgency of addressing these crises, emphasizing that almost 300 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2023 due to conflict, climate-related disasters, and economic challenges. He called for increased funding to match the growing need.
Looking ahead to 2024, Wouterse emphasized that progress in addressing food insecurity hinges on ending hostilities in conflict-affected regions, which would enable humanitarian access and aid delivery. The report also highlights other factors exacerbating food insecurity, including political instability in Haiti and the potential impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon in West and Southern Africa. Despite global decreases in food prices, low-income, import-dependent countries have not benefited, while high debt levels limit government responses to high prices.
While conditions improved in some countries in 2023, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, the report underscores the urgent need for sustained efforts to address the root causes of food insecurity and mitigate its impact on vulnerable populations worldwide.
