The UN World Food Program says 41 million people are on the brink of starvation

After several decades of decline, world hunger has been on the rise since 2016, caused by conflict and climate change.

About 41 million people in 43 countries are at risk of starvation, and nearly 600,000 in four other countries are experiencing hunger-like conditions, the World Food Program (WFP) warn.

In a statement on Tuesday, the United Nations said wars, climate change and economic turmoil are driving the rise in hunger, while commodity prices are exacerbating pressures on food security this year.

“I am wholeheartedly committed to what we face in 2021,” said David Beasley, WFP’s executive director. “We now have four countries with conditions like hunger. Meanwhile, 41 million people are literally knocking on the door of hunger. “

“I am wholeheartedly committed to what we face in 2021” – @WFPChief 4️⃣1️⃣ in new data showing millions knocking on the door of hunger. ????

“It’s tragic. They’re real people with real names.” Read the full note ➡️ https://t.co/cXY2S23bLV. #FightFamina pic.twitter.com/uBubc6uShw

– World Food Program USA (@WFPUSA) June 22, 2021

There are similar conditions to famine this year Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan and Yemen, as well as in the pockets of Nigeria and Burkina Faso, with 584,000 damaged.

But Beasley warned to “discuss the numbers until death” as happened in Somalia in 2011, when 130,000 people (half of the last toll caused by famine) were declared starving.

The WFP, funded by voluntary donations, said it would immediately raise $ 6 billion to reach those at risk in 43 countries.

“We need funding and we need it now,” Beasley said.

Rising world food prices

After several decades of decline, world hunger has been on the rise since 2016, caused by conflict and climate change.

In 2019, there were 27 million people on the verge of starvation, according to WFP, but since 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has been added to the mix.

World food prices rose to a one-decade high in May, with UN data showing that bases like cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar were 40 per cent combined compared to a year ago.

According to the WFP, global corn prices have risen by almost 90% year-on-year, while wheat prices have risen by almost 30% at the same time.

Currency depreciation in Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe adds to these pressures and prices are even higher, promoting food insecurity.

The PMA, which received the Nobel Peace Prize last year, says about 9 percent of the world’s population, the equivalent of nearly 690 million people, go to bed hungry every night.