UN warns of rising hunger in Africa

A new United Nations report highlights a troubling rise in hunger across Africa, despite global hunger showing signs of decline, as reported by Africanews on July 29th.

As stated in the report, approximately 512 million individuals worldwide will be chronically undernourished by 2030, with 60% of those affected located in Africa.

Africa’s food systems are being strained by rapid population growth, ongoing conflict, extreme weather events, and escalating food prices. As a result, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet has risen from 864 million in 2019 to over one billion in 2024.

A study published by the European Central Bank and six other European institutions connects climate-related events to sharp price increases in key crops such as lettuce in Australia, cabbage in South Korea, coffee in Brazil, rice in Japan, and cocoa in Ghana.

António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, issued a stern warning during the Second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Ethiopia. In a video message, he said that food must never be used “as a weapon of war,” sympathising with other leaders calling for immediate action to address Africa’s deepening food insecurity.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the African Union Commission Chairperson, warned that climate shocks, conflict, and economic disruption are fuelling a rise in food insecurity, leaving more than 280 million people across Africa malnourished.

Youssouf stated, “Fifty-two million Africans face food insecurity, and nearly 3.4 million are on the brink of famine.”

During the summit, many leaders agreed on and emphasised the need for stronger investments in climate resilience, agriculture, and social protection systems to minimise and reverse the rise in hunger and malnourishment. Without quick, coordinated action, Africa risks becoming an home to half of the world’s undernourished population in the next five years.

Africanews, Maghrebi.org