MENA Newswire News Desk: The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the escalating global food crisis, revealing that the number of individuals experiencing catastrophic hunger has surged to nearly two million, more than doubling in the past year. This alarming trend was disclosed in the latest Global Report on Food Crises, released on Thursday.
According to the report, the number of people facing the most severe level of food insecurity, classified as Phase 5 on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale, has risen significantly. This phase signifies extreme food shortages, where individuals face severe malnutrition and a heightened risk of mortality due to a complete depletion of coping mechanisms.
Máximo Torero, Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), reported in a press briefing that the number of people in catastrophic Phase 5 has soared from 705,000 across five countries in 2023 to 1.9 million in just four countries this year. This escalation is attributed to ongoing conflicts, droughts induced by El Niño, and soaring domestic food prices.
Arif Husain, Chief Economist at the World Food Program (WFP), emphasized the critical nature of the situation, noting that the number of people affected by food crises has risen from 90 million in 2023 to an estimated 99 million this year. Husain stressed the urgent need for increased access and funding to combat the crisis effectively. He highlighted the dual requirements of ensuring physical access to those in need and securing sustained financial resources for aid.
Victor Aguayo, Director of Child Nutrition and Development at UNICEF, spotlighted the severe impact on children, revealing that child wasting – a dangerous form of malnutrition – has reached critical levels in eight countries. Aguayo’s remarks underscore the dire need for comprehensive interventions to address the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable populations. The report’s findings reflect a broader, intensifying crisis that demands immediate global attention and action to mitigate the worsening food insecurity and prevent further escalation.