In a stark warning, the head of the United Nations food agency has raised the alarm about a severe global hunger crisis impacting over 700 million individuals, casting uncertainty over when their next meal will come.
According to reports from the Associated Press, as the demand for food continues to surge, humanitarian funding is dwindling. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that in 79 countries where it operates, up to 783 million people, equivalent to one in ten of the world’s population, go to bed hungry every night.
Furthermore, the agency reports a troubling increase in food insecurity, with over 345 million people facing high levels of food insecurity in 2023. This represents an alarming rise of almost 200 million people since early 2021, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The head of the WFP, who is also the widow of the late US senator John McCain, disclosed that the agency’s estimates indicate that nearly 47 million individuals in more than 50 countries are on the brink of famine. Shockingly, this includes approximately 45 million children under the age of five who are currently experiencing acute malnutrition.
Addressing a council meeting focused on humanitarian public-private partnerships, McCain emphasized the need for ambitious, multi-sectoral collaborations to combat hunger and poverty effectively. She stressed that it’s not just about financing but also finding innovative solutions to assist the world’s neediest.
As per the Associated Press, Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, emphasized that while humanitarian relief has historically been the responsibility of governments and development institutions, the private sector can offer much more than financial donations for supplies. He highlighted the private sector’s readiness to address current challenges in partnership with the public sector, asserting that business cannot thrive in a world plagued by humanitarian crises. Miebach underscored the private sector’s potential to strengthen infrastructure, introduce innovative approaches, and deliver solutions at scale to enhance humanitarian operations.
Jared Cohen, president of global affairs at Goldman Sachs, noted that the revenue of numerous multinational companies surpasses the GDP of some of the largest economies in the Group of 20. He pointed out that several American companies, along with their global counterparts, employ over 500,000 workers, surpassing the population of up to 20 UN member nations.
This alarming revelation serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for global cooperation and innovative solutions to address the escalating hunger crisis that affects millions worldwide.
With contributions from agencies
