New York, 7 September 2024 (TDI): UN numbers released on Thursday indicate that the number of people facing catastrophic hunger has more than doubled in 2024, primarily as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Gaza.
According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, around two million people are currently experiencing acute hunger, which is the most severe level of food insecurity and is categorized as Phase 5 on the global IPC scale.
Acute malnutrition and death are far more likely at this level, which is defined as an “extreme lack of food and exhaustion of coping capacities.”
A healthy food was unaffordable for many families, the research added, and acute malnutrition among women and children in crisis-affected nations remained “persistently high.”
Improved harvests have been linked to lower rates of hunger in a number of nations, including Kenya, Afghanistan, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Lebanon.
The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Food Programme (WFP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and humanitarian partners collaborated to compile the study.
Absolute breakdown in Gaza
Severe malnutrition affects children in ways that UNICEF’s Víctor Aguayo, Director of Child Nutrition, explained.
He called the situation in Gaza one of the worst food and nutrition crises in history while briefing reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.
We have never witnessed a more dire nutritional condition than the one in Gaza.He stated, “It is crucial to keep in mind that children make up about half of Gaza’s population and are the ones suffering from this destruction.”
He added that the war’s effects and the tight limitations placed on humanitarian supplies have caused the food, health, and safety systems to “completely collapse,” with catastrophic effects. He had just returned from the enclave last week.
Famine threat is genuine
The speaker stated, “It is a reality that children in Gaza have incredibly inadequate diets. According to estimates, more than 90% of kids only consume two different kinds of food every day for weeks or months at a time, all while experiencing extreme…lack of access to clean water and sanitary facilities.”
The number of children who require emergency medical attention and nutrition workers due to acute malnutrition is estimated to be around 50,000.
He urged an early ceasefire and continued humanitarian access, saying, “I walked through markets and neighborhoods, or what’s left of markets and neighborhoods. There is no doubt in my mind that the risk of famine and a large-scale severe nutrition crisis in Gaza is real.”
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Sudan is rapidly getting worse
The fast declining state of food security in Sudan was emphasized by FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero.
In certain internally displaced person (IDP) camps, hunger has resulted from the continued fighting between competing troops and restricted humanitarian access, raising the possibility of disease spread. Not until October, at the latest, is a better scenario anticipated.
A rapid decline in food security is being caused by the conflict; according to estimates, 26% more people—or 25.6 million—are classified as being in crisis or worse during the June to September lead period than there were in June of last year.
He continued, “This crisis also affects neighboring countries, like Chad and South Sudan, which are hosting a large number of Sudanese refugees while dealing with their own crises caused by conflict and climate change.”
Funds and accessibility
Food crises are affecting a projected 99 million people this year, up from 90 million in 2023, according to WFP Chief Economist Arif Husain.
In order to properly handle the situation, he underlined the necessity of both access and funding.
“The first is access – the ability to physically reach those in need, safe and continuous access. The second is funding to support ongoing assistance until such time as there is,” he stated.
It is insufficient if you only have one. If all you have is money or access that is insufficient. Both are necessary.
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Deal with the underlying reasons
Speaking addressing the basic causes of hunger and malnutrition, Mr. Husain emphasized the importance of doing so.
He stated, “We cannot expect the requirements to decrease unless we address the underlying reasons, whether they are related to war or the environment.”
He concluded by noting that although specialists and aid workers are aware of the circumstances mentioned in the report, there are numerous more hotspots with comparable conditions but with limited data or information available, including Zambia.
However, without evidence, we are unable to declare that there is a famine there. Access therefore plays a crucial role in obtaining the information.
