Global food insecurity worsened in 2023, with about 282 million people in need of urgent assistance due to conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Sudan, as well as extreme climate events and economic shocks, warned 16 United Nations and humanitarian organizations.
This number represents an increase of 24 million compared to 2022, and the outlook remains “bleak” for the current year, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises prepared by the Food Security Information Network.
This marks the fifth consecutive year witnessing a rise in the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity, indicating a situation where an individual’s life or livelihood is threatened because they are unable to access food adequately.
The recent exacerbation is also partly due to an increase in the number of areas covered in the report.
In 2023, there were 700,000 people on the brink of famine, including 600,000 in Gaza. This number has risen in Gaza during the current year due to ongoing conflict and widespread hunger, reaching 1.1 million people.