António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated on Monday, October 16, that nearly 780 million people around the world are suffering from hunger, with nearly 50 million children at risk of “severe malnutrition,” and yet, global humanitarian funding for this year does not exceed 32%.
He made these remarks on World Food Day 2023 amid the global food crisis.
In his message on World Food Day, Guterres highlighted that despite the progress made in 2015 when governments set a goal to eradicate hunger by 2030, the number of people suffering from hunger has significantly increased after eight years.
He pointed out that many governments lack the necessary resources to address this issue, emphasizing that effective international solidarity is also crucial.
Long-term causes of the global food crisis include conflicts, extreme climate events, inequality, and economic instability.
Guterres affirmed that the United Nations supports sustainable and equitable food systems, calling for a significant increase in investments in resilient agriculture while aligning it with climate action and harnessing science and technology to enhance food system efficiency and accessibility.
He also highlighted the theme of World Food Day 2023, which focuses on water, emphasizing the importance of sustainable water management for agricultural purposes and food production to eradicate hunger, achieve sustainable development goals, and preserve water for future generations.
