Why Global Citizens Should Care
Vulnerable communities are at risk of experiencing famine due to natural disasters and political turmoil. To end extreme poverty by 2030, we must achieve zero hunger. You can join us and take action on this issue here

Another study showing the correlation between world hunger and climate change is here. 

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its third annual report on global food crises Tuesday. It found that more than 113 million people have experienced “acute hunger” across 53 countries in 2018, and conflict, climate disasters, and economic hardships are to blame.

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José Graziano da Silva, FAO’s director-general, wrote on Twitter that the number of people dying from hunger-related causes and conflict is “unacceptable.”

Two-thirds of the people who are in danger of being exposed to famine live in war-torn countries, including Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and Syria. And African countries were hit the hardest by conflict and natural disasters. Roughly 72 million people on the continent suffered acute hunger in 2018, FAO Emergencies Director Dominique Bourgeon told Agence France-Presse.

A single disaster could push people who are dependent on agriculture into famine, according to FAO’s report. The world’s most vulnerable people need humanitarian aid and the resources to boost agriculture in order to sustain themselves, Bourgeon said

On one hand, the number of people who experienced acute hunger was down in 2018 compared to 2017 when 124 million people didn’t have enough to eat, according to the Thomas Reuters Foundation. Fewer droughts, flooding, erratic rains, and temperature rises helped lessen the global food crisis, but that’s not to say climate change isn’t still a threat. 

FAO anticipates dry weather and El Niño conditions will affect people in southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean in 2019. A rise in refugees and migrants in Bangladesh and Syria will also leave many people hungry, according to the report. Bourgeon highlighted the current Venezuelan humanitarian crisis, which has caused millions to flee, as a major concern.  

In order to reduce world hunger, FAO is calling for a unified effort to end conflicts and promote peace. Graziano da Silva said more programs are needed to stabilize communities.

"To truly end hunger, we must attack the root causes: conflict, instability, the impact of climate shocks,” Graziano da Silva said in an FAO statement. 

“Boys and girls need to be well-nourished and educated, women need to be truly empowered, rural infrastructure must be strengthened in order to meet that Zero Hunger goal.”

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