Progress fighting global hunger has been set back 15 years, leaving around 733 million people going hungry in 2023, equivalent to one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa, according to the latest UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, published Wednesday.

“The bottom line is that we are still far off-track towards the goal of ridding the world of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition by 2030,” said Maximo Torero, Chief Economist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically SDG 2: Zero Hunger.

Mr. Torero noted that if current trends persist, around 582 million people will still face hunger in 2030, half of them in Africa.

Despite progress in combating stunting and in promoting breastfeeding, global hunger levels have remained stubbornly static for three consecutive years. Between 713 million and 757 million people were undernourished in 2023, around 152 million more than in 2019, according to the report, a joint publication by FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

Africa, Asia, Latin America in focus

Regional trends show a stark contrast with hunger continuing to rise in Africa, affecting 20.4 per cent of the population, while remaining stable in Asia at 8.1 per cent. This is a significant concern given that the region houses more than half of those facing hunger worldwide. Latin America has shown some progress with 6.2 per cent of its population facing hunger. However, from 2022 to 2023, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and most African subregions.

FAO’s Mr. Torero highlighted that Africa faces a unique challenge as it is the only region where hunger has risen owing to all three major drivers: conflict, climate extremes and economic downturns. Of them all, he emphasized that war remains “a major driver” of hunger, exacerbating the food crisis across countries.

Getting enough food is out of reach

The report’s other key findings include that access to adequate food remains out of reach for billions. In 2023, approximately 2.33 billion people globally were moderately or severely food insecure, almost the same number as during the COVID pandemic. Over 864 million people experienced severe food insecurity, meaning having to go for periods without food. While Latin America has seen some improvement in food security, in Africa, a full 58 per cent of the continent’s people are moderately or severely food insecure.

The economic reasons for global remain a major issue, too: the report found 2.8 billion people couldn’t afford a healthy diet in 2022. The contrast between high-income and low-income countries is stark, with just 6.3 per cent of people in the former unable to afford a healthy diet, compared to 71.5 per cent in poorer nations. And although Asia, North America and Europe saw improvements, the situation worsened in Africa.

Coronavirus link to hunger

COVID-19 remains a significant marker in the fight against global hunger, with the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet by 2022 falling below pre-pandemic levels in upper-middle and higher-income countries.

On the other hand, in low-income countries by 2022, the number of people unable to buy enough healthy food reached its highest level since 2017. In 2020, 1.68 billion people globally could not afford a healthy diet, with a 59 per cent increase in lower-middle-income countries. Mr. Torero attributed this disparity to “the significant increase of inequalities among countries and regions caused by COVID-19”.

Targets hit – and missed

Progress in child nutrition has been mixed, the UN report shows.

Although exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased to 48 per cent, low birthweight levels remain stagnant at around 15 per cent and stunting in children under five decreased to 22.3 per cent – still short of targets.

There was little movement in combating wasting and anaemia in women, while adult obesity continued to rise, reaching 15.8 per cent in 2022, with projections of more than 1.2 billion obese adults by 2030.

These numbers show the complexity of malnutrition in all its forms and the need for targeted interventions, the report’s authors maintained, amid a backdrop of persistent food price inflation, conflicts, climate change and economic downturns that is making food insecurity and malnutrition worse globally.

Digging deep to end hunger

In line with the theme of this year’s report – “Financing to End Hunger, Food Insecurity and All Forms of Malnutrition” – its recommendations focus on a comprehensive approach to achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. This includes transforming agrifood systems, addressing inequalities and making healthy diets affordable and accessible. The report calls for increased, cost-effective financing and a standardised approach to food security and nutrition.

Mr. Torero explained: “One of the major recommendations is to come up with a common definition so that we understand what we are financing and the key elements to include in this definition. This will enhance accountability for donors and provide a clearer picture of financial flows.”

UN agency heads, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell, stressed that closing the financing gap is crucial. They emphasized that substantial investment is required to end hunger and malnutrition, framing it as both a future investment and a fundamental obligation.

Of the 119 low and middle-income countries featured in the report, 63 per cent have limited access to financing. These countries are also affected by multiple factors of food insecurity. Better data coordination, higher risk tolerance and more transparency are key to bridging the financing gap and strengthening global food security efforts, the report maintains.

“We need to understand that our agri-food systems are under increasing risk and uncertainty due to climate change…donors must adopt greater risk tolerance to activate effective finance,” Mr. Torero said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

The Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala has revealed that construction of a new bridge at the Katonga river along the Kampala-Masaka highway will commence in October this year.

He made the revelation while responding to a matter of national importance raised by Kashari North County Member of Parliament, Hon. Basil Bataringaya, during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 23 July 2024.

Bataringaya expressed concern that repairs on the existing bridge had been abandoned and tasked the minister to give dates by which the key trade route would be fixed.

“Last year, the Katonga bridge was swept away and closed for more than six months. Temporary measures were taken to repair this bridge, and traffic was channeled through the long Sembabule road which was inconveniencing to traders in terms of money and time,” Bataringaya said.

He urged the Works Minister to create a shorter alternative route as works on the affected bridge take shape.

“And in this case, I propose the Villa Maria-Kalungu-Masaka road,” he added.

Gen. Katumba Wamala said that the Katonga bridge was compromised due to meteorological changes which impacted the behavior of the river.

“We had to study the meteorological behaviors of that river so that we can make a new structure which is resilient and will stand the test of time. We could not rush into establishing more or less the same bridge which had been compromised,” he said.

The minister also revealed that contractor will address the challenges within Kalandazi and Lwera swamps to ensure that the section of the road is restored to meet the challenges of the truck volumes.

He also called on road users along the Kampala-Masaka highway to exercise patience as construction works on the new bridge takes place.

“I want us to understand these structures are not simple structures to do. If we do a structure in a hurry, and it gives away in a few years, it will be this same House that will put us to task. This is a very sensitive structure and so it should be done with all the caution and detail it deserves,” said Katumba Wamala.

In May 2023, the Katonga bridge was destroyed by flash floods prompting the government to create a diversion for heavy trucks to the Mpigi-Sembabule-Masaka road.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has returned the National Commission for UNESCO (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024  to Parliament for reconsideration.

In a letter read by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa at the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 23 July 2024, Museveni said that the National Commission for UNESCO Bill establishes a department instead of a unit which he adds is contrary to the public service practice where a ministry refers to a set of formal arrangements including the structures established administratively with Cabinet approval.

“Section (4) of the amendment act provides that on the commencement of this act shall be re-established as the department in the Ministry responsible for Education without corporate status, “the President states in his letter adding that, ’the implication therefore, would be that instead UNATCOM is established as a legal entity but without corporate status’.

The President added that the amendment act continues with the terminology of a commission in the long title arguing that it can cause legal confusion. He called for the reconciliation of the two to promote consistency and avoid misrepresentation.

On the Uganda Higher Education Student’s Financing (Amendment) Act, 2024, Museveni called for reconsideration of the title.

According to President Museveni, the title is different from the one stated under Section 5 of the Higher Education Standards (Amendment) Act.

Tayebwa referred the Bills to the Committee on Education and Sports for reconsideration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

South Africa welcomes the declaration of unity between various Palestinian groups and their stated intention to constitute an interim national unity reconciliation government. Palestinian unity has the capacity to bring Palestinians closer to achieving the core objectives of the Palestinian cause: self-determination, freedom, justice, peace and the establishment of an independent, sovereign and prosperous Palestinian state.

Our own struggle for a free, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united, undivided and prosperous South Africa instructs unity as the foundation of our collective strength, resilience and achievement.

It is through unity and solidarity that the Palestinian people can effectively confront the challenges of occupation and oppression, and work towards the realisation of their national aspirations. The declaration issued signals a commitment to overcome past divisions and advance towards a shared vision and future.

South Africa commends the various Palestinian groups, their leaders and representatives who have chosen the path of dialogue, national reconciliation and common action in pursuit of the undoubtedly just Palestinian cause.

South Africa further remains committed to the two-state solution and a free Palestine. As we express our continued solidarity and unwavering support, we look forward to the positive impact that Palestinian unity and national reconciliation will bring, fostering hope and driving meaningful change. Let this be the dawn of a new era where the collective aspirations for freedom, justice and self-determination of the Palestinian people are fully realised.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.