Global Food Crisis and Acute Hunger

Overview

The issue of acute hunger reached unprecedented levels in the past year, with over 295 million people affected, marking a significant increase from previous years. This surge in hunger is primarily driven by conflict, compounded by other crises, and poses a challenging outlook for 2025 due to declining humanitarian aid.

Key Findings from the Global Report on Food Crises

• The report indicates a sixth consecutive annual rise in acute food insecurity.
• In 2024, 295.3 million people experienced acute hunger, representing nearly a quarter of the population across 53 of the 65 countries analyzed.
• This marks an increase from 281.6 million people in 2023.
• The number of individuals facing famine more than doubled to 1.9 million compared to the previous year.

Regional and Global Implications

• Gaza faces a "critical risk of famine" due to an Israeli aid blockade lasting over two months.
• Countries like Sudan, Yemen, and Mali are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger driven by ongoing conflict.

Insights from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Guterres emphasizes the dire situation where hunger and malnutrition escalate faster than global response capabilities, despite a third of all food produced being lost or wasted.

Primary Drivers of Hunger

• Conflict and violence are the main causes in 20 countries and territories, impacting 140 million people with acute hunger.