The United Nations in its latest ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report has revealed that 130 million people will face hunger and starvation by the end of 2020. The report estimates that no fewer than 687.8 million people suffered hunger in 2019, up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years.

According to the study, high costs and low affordability also mean that billions cannot afford healthy or nutritious meals. It warns that the COVID-19 pandemic could push 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020. Asia remains home to the highest number of undernourished with 381 million people affected, followed by Africa with 250 million, according to the study. It added that Latin America and the Caribbean is third with 48 million people.

The study noted that although prevalence of undernourishment has changed slightly at 8.9 per cent, the absolute numbers have been rising since 2014. This means that over the last five years, hunger has grown in step with the global population.

In a video message, UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, said that the report had sent a “sobering message”. “In much of the world, hunger remains deeply entrenched and is rising. Countries continue to grapple with malnutrition in all its forms, including the growing burden of obesity. The COVID-19 pandemic is making things even worse,” Guterres said. He said the world should take action to prevent many more people from slipping into hunger as predicted. “The report is clear: if the current trend continues, we will not achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, zero hunger, by 2030”, he added. This Day