Progress on World Hunger Has Reversed

By Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Jul 3 2017 (IPS)World hunger has increased, reversing years of progress, said a UN specialised agency.During its biennial conference held in Rome, Italy from 3-8 July, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) noted that the world is facing it’s worst food crisis since World War II. Credit: FAO/Carlo Perla“I wish I could announce here today some good news regarding the global fight against hunger…but, unfortunately, it is not the case,” said FAO’s Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva to member states at the opening of the meeting.FAO has identified 19 countries facing severe food crises due to a combination of conflict and climate change including South Sudan, Northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen where nearly 20 million are affected.Though South Sudan recently declared that it no longer has areas in famine, millions are still on the brink of starvation as violence and insecurity ensues.In fact, almost 60 percent of hungry people around the world live in areas affected by conflicts and climate change. With no relief to be seen, many turn to migration, contributing to the doubling of global displacement, said Graziano da Silva.The concerning trends comes just two years after the adoption the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals which includes targets to eradicate hunger by 2030.“Strong political commitment to eradicate hunger is fundamental, but it is not enough. Hunger will only be defeated if countries ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Africa Armed Conflicts Climate Change Combating Desertification and Drought Crime & Justice Featured Food & Agriculture Gender Violence Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies Migration & Refugees Poverty & SDGs Source Type: news