World’s Hungry Exceeds One Billion

The number of hungry people in the world has passed the one billion mark for the first time ever, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. This means that one in six people go to bed desperately hungry every night.

The combination of the global financial downturn and high food prices has resulted in a dramatic increase in the total number of people worldwide who currently suffer from acute and chronic malnutrition. The economic crisis has had a particularly devastating effect on the poor. Their declining wages and reduced economic opportunities make purchasing food increasingly difficult, especially in developing countries where the cost of food remains stubbornly high. A United Nations study found that by the end of 2008, staple foods still cost on average 24 percent more than two years earlier.

These latest figures from the UN underscore the urgency of the global hunger crisis. But since the increase in the world’s hungry population is not a result of limited international food supplies, cost-effective solutions and preventive strategies exist that can save lives.

At Action Against Hunger, we are working every day to save the lives of malnourished children and provide families with access to safe drinking water and sustainable solutions to hunger.

From creating sustainable water sources for families returning from years in displacement camps in Uganda, to pioneering new programs to prevent malnutrition before it requires treatment in Kenya, Action Against Hunger is partnering with communities to help them fight hunger well into the future.

Report on Food Crisis and Aid Issues, 2009

A report from the International Aid & Trade Conference discusses the impact of the global food crisis and highlights ACF staff.