Understanding the Concept of Hunger
Hunger is the distress caused by inadequate dietary energy and nutrients essential for health, existing on a spectrum from temporary sensations to chronic deprivation with severe health impacts. It is classified into acute hunger (related to famine), chronic hunger (ongoing undernourishment), and hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies). The Food and Agriculture Organization measures hunger through indicators like the Prevalence of Undernourishment and the Global Hunger Index (GHI). Regions most affected by hunger include Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with Somalia, South Sudan, and Burundi identified as having alarming hunger levels in the 2024 GHI. Key drivers of hunger in these regions include armed conflict and political instability, climate shocks leading to droughts and floods, economic crises exacerbating poverty, and disruptions in food markets that hinder access to imports. People coping with famine often reduce meal frequency, rely on less nutritious wild foods, or take on adverse strategies like selling assets. These conditions lead to elevated hunger-related mortality, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address and alleviate the factors contributing to global hunger.
The Global Challenge of Zero Hunger
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) aims to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. Currently, 828 million people are hungry, with 349 million facing severe hunger, primarily due to conflict, climate change, poverty, and food waste. Conflict is a major barrier to achieving zero hunger, with nearly 60% of the hungriest individuals living in conflict zones, perpetuating cycles of violence and food insecurity. Climate change exacerbates hunger through extreme weather events that disrupt food access and economies. Additionally, poverty and inequality are root causes of global hunger, with declines in bee populations threatening agricultural productivity. Despite producing enough food globally, about 40% is wasted in high-income countries, while low-income countries experience significant loss during growth and storage. Malnutrition affects nearly 3 billion people in various forms, including undernutrition and obesity. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified food insecurity, reversing years of progress and pushing millions into undernourishment. The economic impacts of the pandemic have increased global poverty for the first time since 1990, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action across sectors to achieve zero hunger and improve global food systems.