The Global Report on Food Crises has been updated, revealing that nearly two million people are currently facing the most critical level of food insecurity, classified as Phase 5 on the global IPC scale. This level signifies an extreme lack of food and exhaustion of coping capacities, leading to a heightened risk of acute malnutrition and death. The report emphasized that this level of food insecurity not only results in widespread acute malnutrition and death in the short term but also has significant human, social, and economic impacts in the long term.
In crisis-affected countries, acute malnutrition among children and women has remained persistently high, with many families struggling to afford a healthy diet. However, the report also highlighted that improved harvests in countries such as Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Guatemala, Lebanon, and Afghanistan have helped reduce hunger to some extent.
Prepared by a consortium of UN agencies including the FAO, WFP, UNICEF, and IOM, along with humanitarian partners, the report sheds light on the dire situation of food crises around the world. Víctor Aguayo, the UNICEF Director of Child Nutrition, particularly emphasized the devastating situation in Gaza, describing it as one of the most severe food and nutrition crises in history. Aguayo highlighted the impact of the war and severe restrictions on humanitarian response, leading to a complete collapse of food, health, and protection systems in Gaza with catastrophic consequences.
Having recently visited Gaza, Aguayo stressed the severity of the nutrition situation, especially for children who make up nearly half of the population suffering from devastation. He noted that over 90% of children in Gaza are consuming only two types of food per day for weeks or months due to the lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Aguayo estimated that more than 50,000 children in Gaza urgently require treatment for acute malnutrition, underscoring the urgent need for medical professionals and nutrition workers to address the crisis.
Aguayo’s firsthand account of the dire situation in Gaza leaves no doubt in his mind that a famine and large-scale nutrition crisis are ongoing. He called for an immediate ceasefire and sustained humanitarian access to provide much-needed aid to the people of Gaza. The accompanying image in the report depicts the destruction of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip due to the conflict, further highlighting the devastation faced by the population in this region.
Additionally, Máximo Torero, the Chief Economist at FAO, drew attention to the rapid deterioration of food security in Sudan. He highlighted the ongoing conflict between rival militaries and limited humanitarian access as contributing factors to the worsening food security situation in the country. Torero’s remarks underscore the urgent need for action to address the food crisis in Sudan and prevent further suffering among its population.
Overall, the Global Report on Food Crises paints a grim picture of the food insecurity faced by millions of people worldwide, with specific regions like Gaza and Sudan experiencing severe crises. The report’s findings call for immediate humanitarian action to address the acute malnutrition, hunger, and food insecurity plaguing these populations and prevent further loss of life and livelihoods. The UN agencies and humanitarian partners involved in preparing the report continue to work tirelessly to provide assistance to those in need and advocate for sustainable solutions to food crises globally.
