FAO warns Middle East conflict and El Niño threaten progress on global hunger

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated on Tuesday that around 645 million people experienced hunger last year, representing 7.8% of the global population. While this marks a slight improvement compared to previous years, the agency warned that progress could stall in 2024 due to the war in the Middle East and climate change.

According to the FAO's annual report, Africa remains the hardest hit, with about 20% of its population suffering from undernourishment. The world has not yet returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, despite improvements since 2022, when 688 million people faced hunger.

The UN projects that by 2030, the number of people suffering from undernourishment will range between 510 and 520 million, with more than half in Africa. This threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger.

David Laborde, Director of Agrifood Economics at the FAO, said the epicenter of hunger has shifted from Asia to Africa, noting that conflicts, climate change, and economic crises are putting increasing pressure on food systems, despite their resilience.

The report added that about 2.1 billion people face moderate or severe food insecurity, while 2.69 billion cannot afford a healthy diet, as costs have risen by 25% over the past five years.

It also noted that stunting still affects around 150 million children under five, while adult obesity rates rose to 16.2% in 2024 and are expected to reach 18.6% by 2030.

The FAO warned that the war in the Middle East, along with the El Niño phenomenon, could undermine progress, saying it is monitoring impacts on crops in Africa, India, and South America. The agency called for increased international funding to support the most vulnerable countries in facing these crises.