Hunger protest
As the world prepares to mark World Food Day (WFP) on October 16, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning: 673 million people globally—roughly 8% of the world’s population—are suffering from hunger.
In a recent statement, the WFP highlighted a troubling rise in global food insecurity, driven by a complex mix of conflict, climate change, economic instability, and trade barriers.
According to the agency, food is becoming increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible, particularly in vulnerable and food-deficit regions.
> “Export restrictions, tariffs and volatile commodity prices are disrupting food markets,” the WFP stated.
“This makes food less affordable, especially in countries that rely heavily on imports.”
The situation is dire in eight countries identified as epicenters of acute hunger: Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia. These nations are grappling with a mix of armed conflict, extreme weather events like floods and droughts, and deep-rooted poverty.
> “Conflict, climate shocks and inequality are key drivers of food insecurity,” the agency noted, adding that wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza have severely disrupted food supply chains, displaced millions, and increased the strain on global food systems.
In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the WFP reported that two-thirds of the nearly 700 million people living in extreme poverty are based in the region—where hunger is most pronounced.
The agency also pointed to the longer-term effects of overlapping global crises. It said the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, and the Russia-Ukraine war have all contributed to surging food and energy prices between 2020 and 2024, further deepening the food access crisis.
> “As food prices rose, real wages fell. Inflation left people—especially in low-income countries—unable to afford nutritious food, often forcing families to reduce their meals to just one per day,” the WFP stated.
Beyond economics, social inequality is another factor. The WFP stressed that marginalised communities, especially women and indigenous groups, often lack the income, infrastructure, or services needed to access adequate food.
> “Poverty and poor infrastructure in rural areas mean millions still go hungry, even as the world produces enough to feed everyone.”
As World Food Day 2025 approaches, the WFP’s message is clear: solving hunger requires a coordinated global effort to tackle not just food supply issues, but the underlying political, environmental, and economic challenges that keep millions locked in poverty and malnutrition.
