According to a report by the Global Network Against Food Crises, the number of people facing life-threatening hunger around the world increased by a third last year. This surge in hunger is due to economic shocks and soaring food prices, and marks the fourth consecutive year of rising hunger. The report highlights the "outsized impact" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on global food systems, which could further intensify the crisis.
The report reveals that 258 million people across 58 countries or territories suffered from acute food insecurity in 2022, up from 193 million people in the prior year. The cost-of-living crisis and population growth contributed to this worrying jump, with the poorest countries being the hardest hit. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls this situation "unconscionable" as more than a quarter of a billion people are now facing acute levels of hunger, and some are on the brink of starvation.
Economic shocks were the main catalyst for hunger in almost half the areas, including surging food prices and trade disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine, a significant supplier of grain and vegetable oil. Although food-commodity costs have since eased, they remain historically high, and food inflation rose by more than 10% in 38 of the countries and territories in the report.
Conflict was another leading driver of hunger, and the problem has been further worsened by extreme weather conditions, including recent drought in the Horn of Africa and last year's floods in Pakistan. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Yemen are among the worst-affected areas.
Overall, the report highlights the urgent need for international aid organizations, governments, and other stakeholders to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of millions of people around the world facing life-threatening hunger and starvation.