The number of hungry and malnourished people is rising for the first time in over a decade. This is according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. There are now 815 million people affected and frequent incidents of acute and widespread food shortages remain. The UN also recently warned that 20 million people are at immediate risk of dying of hunger. There are four countries at particular risk: Yemen 10 million, Nigeria (North East) 4-6 million, South Sudan 4-6 million, and Somalia 2-4 million. A further 18 countries are suffering a high magnitude of food insecurity.
But understandable emotion aside, are we sure that we really understand hunger and malnutrition, or what is known as food insecurity? What are the factors behind the numbers rising? Is it due to climate change, with more droughts happening? Is it over population? Is it degradation of the planet leading to desertification, pollution and deforestation? Or does violence play the biggest role?
To begin to answer these questions it’s important to understand the context, the causes and possible solutions.
