Research
Facts and Statistics
● pproximately 45 million young children suffer from severe malnutrition each year.
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● 50% of child deaths are linked to hunger
● Approximately 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, equalling to 1 in 11 individuals globally.
● An estimated 1.9 million people are experiencing catastrophic hunger, primarily in Gaza and
Sudan
● The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported a 40% reduction in donations in 2025 compared
to the previous year
In 2022, 2.8 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet, contributing to "hidden hunger,"
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where individuals suffer from nutrient deficiencies despite an acceptable calorie intake.
Quotes
● “ We are being forced to choose who gets food and who doesn’t. That’s not humanitarian aid —
that’s triage.”—World Food Programme
● “In Gaza, children are dying of hunger in hospital beds. This should never happen in the 21st
c entury.”—Save the Children
“Hunger has tightened its grip on more than 700 million people. This is not a short-term crisis —
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it’s a global emergency.”— United Nations
Key Concepts and Definitions
● D efinition of Food Insecurity:When people don’t havereliable access to enough safe, nutritious
food to live an active, healthy life.
● Definition of Hunger:The physical pain or discomfortcaused by not eating enough food.
● Definition of Malnutrition:Poor health caused byeating too little, too much, or not the right
kinds of food.
● Definition of Stunting:A child being too short fortheir age due to long-term lack of nutrition.
● Definition of Wasting:A child being too thin fortheir height from sudden or severe food
shortage.
Immediate Causes of Food Insecurity
● P overty:Limited income reduces access to proper food.People living in poverty are usually
unable to afford nutritious or sufficient food
● Conflict and War:Disrupts food production and supplychain. Displaces populations, making
access to food difficult.
● C limate Change and Natural Disasters:Droughts, floods, and storms damage crops. Changing
weather patterns affect growing seasons and food availability.
● Economic Shocks:Inflation, job loss, or rising foodprices reduce purchasing power. Currency
devaluation can make imported food unaffordable.
Root Causes of Food Insecurity
● I nequitable Land and Resource Distribution:Most smallfarmers are left with little or no land
due to wealthier farmers taking away most of the land. Limited access to water, tools, and seeds
make it hard for people to produce enough food.
● Poor Governance and Corruption:Weak governments failto add effective food security policies.
Corruption can lead to resources being given to other places and not to food aid and land rights.
● Global Trade and Agricultural Policy Imbalances:Trade rules and subsidies favor wealthy
countries and large agricultural businesses. Local farmers struggle to compete with cheap
imports, reducing domestic food production
Case Studies and Examples
● G aza (2024–2025): Crisis: War + Blockade. Children are dying of starvation in hospitals. Over
90% of people rely on food aid. The UN calls it a "catastrophic hunger emergency."
● Sudan (2023–2025): Crisis: Civil War. Over 25 million people need food assistance. Farming has
stopped. Markets are destroyed. Hunger is spreading fast, especially in rural areas.
● Somalia (Drought Crisis) Crisis: Climate Change (5 failed rainy seasons). 8+ million in crisis levels
of hunger. Displacement, famine, and child malnutrition everywhere. No water = no crops = no
food.
Historical Context and Timeline
1945 – UN Founded & FAO Created
● The United Nations is established after WWII.
● The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is created to fight hunger and improve agriculture.
1974 – First World Food Conference
● Global food prices spike due to oil crisis and poor harvests.
● Hunger becomes a major global concern for the first time.
1980s – African Famines (Ethiopia, 1983–85)
● A mix of drought and war leads to one of the deadliest famines in modern history.
● Over 1 million people die in Ethiopia alone.
● Global media coverage starts to shape international response.
2007–2008 – Global Food Price Crisis
● Food prices surge due to oil prices, climate change, and export bans.
● Riots erupt in over 30 countries including Haiti, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
2010s – Rise of Conflict-Driven Hunger
● Civil wars in Yemen, Syria, and South Sudan lead to mass food emergencies.
● Humanitarian systems are stretched thin.
2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic
● Lockdowns and border closures disrupt food supply chains.
● Up to 150 million more people are pushed into hunger worldwide.
2022–2023 – Ukraine War
● Ukraine, a key grain and fertilizer exporter, is invaded by Russia.
● Global food prices spike, especially in low-income countries that depend on imports.
2024–2025 – Food Insecurity Crisis Peaks
● Conflict (Gaza, Sudan), climate disasters (Somalia), and inflation collide.
● Over 733 million people face hunger.
● The World Food Programme warns it's making "triage-level" decisions about who gets food.
