The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

World hunger surged in 2020, with 1 in 10 people on Earth undernourished

  • Written by Jessica Eise, Assistant Professor of Social and Environmental Challenges, The University of Texas at San Antonio
World hunger surged in 2020, with 1 in 10 people on Earth undernourished CC BY-ND[1] Nearly 10% of everyone on Earth – an estimated 768 million of us – were undernourished in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economies, job markets and supply chains[2] and inflated food prices[3]. According to the latest edition of an annual food security report[4] from the United Nations, the total sharply increased by an additional 118 million people from 2019, when 8.4% of the world’s population was undernourished. People who are undernourished[5] are chronically hungry, meaning they don’t have enough to eat for a normal, healthy and active life for a period of at least a year. This condition is particularly severe for children[6], with repercussions that can become permanent. Undernourishment was the most prevalent and grew the fastest in low-income nations, such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi[7]. Very few people in wealthier places like Germany, Canada and Australia meet the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organizaton’s criteria[8] for undernourishment. Many years of progress in reducing this problem around the globe had already faltered, starting in 2014. Unfortunately, in addition to lingering economic problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, famine now looms[9] in many places. As a result, prospects for a full economic rebound[10] in the world’s poorest countries remained weak as of the summer of 2021. Even more people are experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity[11], meaning that they do not consistently have access to the food they need[12] every day. More than 30% of the world’s population[13] faced that situation in 2020, up from 26.6% in 2019, the U.N. found. People who experience hunger for several years as children are more likely to die[14] before reaching maturity. Those who survive may face many health and cognitive disadvantages[15] that continue throughout their lives. That’s because when children get inadequate nutrition, they may be described as “stunted,” meaning their brains and bodies do not grow to their full potential[16]. Stunting can affect someone’s ability to pay attention, multitask and regulate their mood. Reducing the prevalence of hunger around the world among children is an especially urgent priority because, unfortunately, the possibility of recovering from nutritional deficits[17] decreases over time. Hunger has many causes, including conflict[18], poverty[19] and climate change[20]. The International Labor Organization estimates that workers around the world lost the equivalent of roughly 255 million full-time jobs[21] in 2020, making the economic impact of the pandemic much greater than the shocks caused by the 2009 financial crisis. Yet, because hunger was increasing before 2020, simply ending the coronavirus pandemic isn’t likely to reverse this trend. Conflict[22] and poverty[23] continue to afflict nations across the globe, particularly in Africa and Asia[24]. What’s more, as the effects of climate change increase, crops that are sensitive to heat and extreme weather events[25] will surely take a hit. Without adequate measures to decrease the pace of climate change and adapt to the damage already done, I fear[26] that it could grow even harder to sharply reduce the number of people who don’t get enough to eat. [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter[27].]

References

  1. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  2. ^ disrupted economies, job markets and supply chains (www.bbc.com)
  3. ^ inflated food prices (www.fao.org)
  4. ^ annual food security report (sdgs.un.org)
  5. ^ People who are undernourished (unstats.un.org)
  6. ^ particularly severe for children (doi.org)
  7. ^ nations, such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi (www.fao.org)
  8. ^ Food and Agriculture Organizaton’s criteria (www.fao.org)
  9. ^ famine now looms (www.wfp.org)
  10. ^ prospects for a full economic rebound (www.worldbank.org)
  11. ^ moderate or severe food insecurity (www.fao.org)
  12. ^ they do not consistently have access to the food they need (www.fao.org)
  13. ^ More than 30% of the world’s population (www.fao.org)
  14. ^ more likely to die (www.copenhagenconsensus.com)
  15. ^ face many health and cognitive disadvantages (doi.org)
  16. ^ their brains and bodies do not grow to their full potential (dx.doi.org)
  17. ^ recovering from nutritional deficits (dx.doi.org)
  18. ^ conflict (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ poverty (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ climate change (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ roughly 255 million full-time jobs (www.ilo.org)
  22. ^ Conflict (africacenter.org)
  23. ^ and poverty (blogs.worldbank.org)
  24. ^ and Asia (www.worldbank.org)
  25. ^ sensitive to heat and extreme weather events (doi.org)
  26. ^ I fear (jessicaeise.com)
  27. ^ Sign up for our weekly newsletter (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/world-hunger-surged-in-2020-with-1-in-10-people-on-earth-undernourished-164379

The Times Features

Understanding the Dangers of Ignoring a Gas Leak

Gas leaks are silent threats lurking within both homes and workplaces. A gas leak occurs when natural gas or any other gaseous substance escapes from a pipeline or containment. T...

Can You Sell Your House Privately in Queensland? Here’s How

Selling a house privately in Queensland is entirely possible and can be a cost-effective alternative to using a real estate agent. While agents provide valuable expertise, their co...

Itinerary to Maximize Your Two-Week Adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia

Two weeks may not seem like much, but it’s just the right time for travelers to explore the best of Vietnam and Cambodia. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the magnificent te...

How to Protect Your Garden Trees from Wind Damage in Australia

In Australia's expansive landscape, garden trees hold noteworthy significance. They not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of our homes but also play an integral role in the local...

Brisbane Homeowners Warned: Non-Compliant Flexible Hoses Pose High Flood Risk

As a homeowner in Brisbane, when you think of the potential for flood damage to your home, you probably think of weather events. But you should know that there may be a tickin...

Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo: Nourish and Revitalize Your Hair

Are you ready to transform your hair from dull and lifeless to vibrant and full of life? Look no further than the luxurious embrace of Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo! In a...

Times Magazine

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

How AI-Driven SEO Enhancements Can Improve Headless CMS Content Visibility

Whereas SEO (search engine optimization) is critical in the digital landscape for making connections to content, much of it is still done manually keyword research, metatags, final tweaks at publication requiring a human element that takes extensiv...

Crypto Expert John Fenga Reveals How Blockchain is Revolutionising Charity

One of the most persistent challenges in the charity sector is trust. Donors often wonder whether their contributions are being used effectively or if overhead costs consume a significant portion. Traditional fundraising methods can be opaque, with...

Navigating Parenting Arrangements in Australia: A Legal Guide for Parents

Understanding Parenting Arrangements in Australia. Child custody disputes are often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of separation or divorce. Parents naturally want what is best for their children, but the legal process of determining ...

Blocky Adventures: A Minecraft Movie Celebration for Your Wrist

The Minecraft movie is almost here—and it’s time to get excited! With the film set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025, fans have a brand-new reason to celebrate. To honor the upcoming blockbuster, watchfaces.co has released a special Minecraft-inspir...

The Ultimate Guide to Apple Watch Faces & Trending Wallpapers

In today’s digital world, personalization is everything. Your smartwatch isn’t just a timepiece—it’s an extension of your style. Thanks to innovative third-party developers, customizing your Apple Watch has reached new heights with stunning designs...

LayBy Shopping