One in every 23 people globally needs humanitarian assistance, Action Against Hunger said on Friday.
This is contained in their latest report ‘No matter who’s fighting, hunger always wins: How violent actions drive food insecurity’.
The report warns that the world is not on track to meet the global goal to end hunger by 2030 due to the rising numbers of people in need of humanitarian aid.
According to the report, hunger and malnutrition have risen steadily since 2015, affecting around 800 million people in 2021.
As a result, the estimated cost of meeting humanitarian needs globally has risen by 25 per cent in the last year alone.
This has been attributed to conflict and violence while extreme weather events, economic shocks and soaring food prices contribute to severe food and malnutrition crises.
Alvin Munyasia raised concern that 10 per cent of the global population in 2022 was facing food insecurity.
Munyasia is the advocacy and communications lead for East and Central Africa at Action Against Hunger.
“Kenya is one of those countries that are facing unprecedented drought and a greater percentage between 40 and 45 per cent of the Kenyan population are at risk of facing starvation,” he said.
“What we need to do is work with both actors to make sure that we are prepared to respond to such catastrophes,” he added.
According to the report, more than 85 per cent of the 258 million people facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 58 countries in 2022 lived in countries affected by conflict and insecurity.
“The alarming resurgence of hunger in the world goes hand-in-hand with the rising number and intensity of armed conflicts,” the report says.
The report has raised concern that despite food being a basic human right, millions of people are going hungry, with children paying the highest price.
Around one in five child deaths globally are attributable to wasting, where a child is severely underweight for their height.
“This condition which affects around 150 children globally is easily treatable but the majority of children affected do not have access to treatment.”
