Food crisis includes one out of every eleven people experiencing hunger, according to an aid organization's assertion.
In a concerning development, global hunger has increased significantly since 2019, with around 9.1% of the global population—between 713 and 757 million people—affected by hunger in 2023. This represents a rise of over 152 million people compared to pre-COVID-19 levels[1][2][4][5].
The situation is particularly dire in vulnerable regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where more than 2 billion people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023, a 383 million increase from 2019[1][2]. The rise is largely driven by conflict, climate variability, economic instability, inequalities, and access to food issues[1][2].
One such region grappling with these challenges is the Gaza Strip, where the humanitarian situation is among the worst that Mathias Mogge, General Secretary of Welthungerhilfe, has seen in his over 30-year career. The organization's president, Marlehn Thieme, has warned that cuts to funding can lead to hunger, displacement, or death for millions of people[6].
Welthungerhilfe, which operates in 37 countries, implemented 649 international projects in 2021, supporting around 18.7 million people[7]. However, the organization's activities in Gaza have been affected by the ongoing crisis. The last food distribution by Welthungerhilfe in Gaza was in February, and the fuel for a water desalination plant operated by the organization is running low and often cannot reach the plant due to bombings and evacuations[8].
Moreover, the high prices of available goods in Gaza have made it difficult for Welthungerhilfe employees to afford food. Currently, 25 kilograms of wheat in Gaza cost over 500 US dollars[9].
In an effort to combat these issues, Welthungerhilfe helps local farmers in various countries with improved seed or transition to other agricultural methods. However, funding for the areas of food security and rural development has been reduced by 18 percent this year[10].
The General Secretary of Welthungerhilfe, Mathias Mogge, has criticized cuts in the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, expressing deep concern over cuts to aid funds in the United States and Germany[11].
While global hunger and food insecurity have worsened significantly due to multiple interlinked factors, the exact relationship with U.S. and Germany aid fund cuts is not explicitly documented. However, it is widely recognized in global development discourse that cuts in international aid—especially reductions targeting food security and rural development—can exacerbate hunger and food insecurity by reducing resources available for agricultural support, rural infrastructure, nutrition programs, and emergency food assistance[3].
In summary, the global hunger crisis is a complex issue driven by multiple factors, and the exact role of aid fund cuts in the U.S. and Germany requires further investigation. However, the potential impact of reduced aid funding on food security and rural development initiatives cannot be overlooked, as these areas are crucial for combating hunger and supporting vulnerable communities.
[1] FAO [2] IFPRI [3] OCHA [4] WFP [5] World Bank [6] Deutsche Welle [7] Welthungerhilfe [8] Deutsche Welle [9] Al Jazeera [10] Deutsche Welle [11] Deutsche Welle
- The rise in global hunger, impacting over 757 million people in 2023, has spotlighted the need for comprehensive policy-and-legislation and politics addressing food security, health-and-wellness, and nutrition, especially in vulnerable regions.
- In the Gaza Strip, where food security is precarious, Welthungerhilfe, a global organization dedicated to science and general-news, has shown concern over cuts in aid funds and their potential detrimental effects on the struggling community's health-and-wellness and food access.
- The reduction in funding for food security and rural development, despite the worsening global hunger crisis, could compromise nutrition programs and emergency food assistance, ultimately impacting science, health-and-wellness, and general-news on a global scale.
