According to ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World – 2021’ released by 5 Agencies of UN, Between 720-811 million people (768 million being the midpoint of project range) in the world faced hunger in 2020.That is, 118 million more people were facing hunger in 2020 than in 2019.It is the 1st comprehensive report on food insecurity and nutrition in the Post-Pandemic era.
- The 5 UN Agencies are – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) & World Health Organization (WHO).
- The report states that around 9.9% of the world’s population were estimated to have been undernourished in 2020, compared to 8.4% in 2019.
- Of the total number of undernourished people in 2020 (768 million), more than half (418 million) live in Asia and more than one-third (282 million) in Africa, while Latin America and the Caribbean accounts for about 8 percent (60 million).
State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World
It is an annual flagship report jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO which provides the progress made towards ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and achieving the goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Malnutrition
i.Nearly 2.37 billion people did not have access to adequate food in 2020, which is an increase of 320 million people compared to 2019.
- Hunger outpaced population growth in 2020, with nearly 10% of all people estimated to be undernourished.
- Compared to 2019, 57 million more people were affected by hunger in Asia in 2020.
- The sharpest increase in hunger was observed in Africa, where 21% of people were estimated to be undernourished.
ii.Child malnutrition remains a big challenge in Africa & Asia.
- Children under 5 years of age who were affected by Stunting – 149.2 million ((22.0 percent)(too short for their age), Wasting – 45.4 million (6.7 percent)(too thin for their height) or overweight – 38.9 million (5.7 percent).
iii.The High cost of healthy diets is keeping around 3 billion people in the world away from healthy diets.
iv.Based on the current trends, the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 will be missed by a margin of nearly 660 million people.
Future Prediction:
Global hunger would decrease to around 710 million in 2021 (9 percent), and then continue to decrease marginally to less than 660 million (7.7 percent) in 2030.
Recent Related News:
i.May 6, 2021, According to the ‘Global Report on Food Crises 2021 (GRFC)’ (5th Edition, Annual Report) launched by GNAFC, At least 155 million people (an increase of 20 million people from 2019) faced Acute Food Insecurity in 2020 due to conflicts, extreme weather & economic shocks caused by COVID-19.
About International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
President – Gilbert F. Houngbo
Headquarters – Rome, Italy
About World Food Programme (WFP)
Executive Director– David Beasley
Headquarters – Rome, Italy
