In 2023, the global food crisis worsened, with around 282 million people suffering from acute hunger, largely due to conflicts in areas such as Gaza and Sudan. Extreme weather events and economic shocks also contributed to the increase in food insecurity, with 24 million more people facing acute hunger compared to the previous year. This information comes from a report by the Food Security Information Network, which described the global outlook for the year as “bleak.”
This was the fifth consecutive year in which the number of people suffering from acute food insecurity increased, due in part to the expanded geographic coverage of the report and deteriorating conditions in 12 countries. New or intensified shocks were experienced in more regions, with notable deterioration in key food crisis contexts like Sudan and the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, about 700,000 people, including 600,000 in Gaza, were on the brink of starvation in 2023, a figure that has since risen to 1.1 million in the war-torn territory.
Protracted major food crises continue in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the impact of war, climate change, and cost-of-living crises on the nearly 300 million people who faced acute food insecurity in 2023, noting that funding is not keeping pace with the need. Guterres emphasized the importance of ending hostilities in order to mitigate the crisis and stressed that humanitarian aid could make a significant difference once access to affected regions is granted.
In addition to conflicts, extreme climatic events, such as floods and droughts, also contribute to acute food insecurity for millions of people. Similarly, economic shocks push many individuals into food insecurity in various countries. The report noted that while global food prices decreased, this decrease did not benefit low-income, import-dependent nations as expected. Furthermore, high debt levels limited government responses to the effects of high prices. Despite these challenges, improvements were observed in 17 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, in 2023.
In conclusion, the global food crisis in 2023 was characterized by a sharp increase in acute food insecurity, largely driven by conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic shocks. The situation was particularly dire in regions such as Gaza and Sudan, where millions of people faced starvation. UN agencies and development groups emphasized the need for increased humanitarian aid and an end to hostilities in order to address this crisis. Moving forward, efforts to address food insecurity will require a coordinated global response to mitigate the impact of conflicts and climate change on vulnerable populations.
