Almost 282 million people in 59 countries and territories experienced acute hunger in 2023, according to this year’s Global Report on Food Crises – a year-on-year increase of 24 million people.
More than 705,000 people faced imminent risk of starvation, a record high for the report and up four-fold since 2016. The majority of that group were in Gaza, with the remainder in South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Mali.
While much of the reported increase in acute hunger was due to the survey’s increased coverage, a dramatic reduction in food security was also to blame, especially in Gaza and Sudan.
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More than 21 percent of the population analysed in 2023 was found to be facing high levels of acute food insecurity, up from 14 percent in 2018. Women and children tended to be the most afflicted.
Acute malnutrition also worsened in 2023, particularly in people displaced by conflict and natural disasters (including extreme weather events). Poor governance and economic shocks were also exacerbating food insecurity in many countries.
In response to the report, United Nations secretary general António Guterres said an “urgent response” was needed. “Using the data in this report to transform food systems and address the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition will be vital.”
