World hunger rising as UN warns of  looming catastrophe

World hunger levels rose again in 2021 after soaring in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic_ with the Russian invasion of Ukraine war and climate change threatening starvation and mass migration on an "unprecedented scale" this year_ according to UN agencies.

Up to 828 million people_ or nearly 10 per cent of the world's population_ were affected by hunger last year_ 46 million more than in the previous year and 150 million more than in 2019_ agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)_ World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) said in the 2022 edition of the UN food security and nutrition report.

World hunger levels remained relatively unchanged since 2019 from 2015.

There is a real danger these numbers will climb even higher in the coming months_ said WFP executive director David Beasley. He added that price spikes in food_ fuel and fertilizers stemming from the Ukraine war threaten to push countries into famine.

The result of the war will be global destabilisation_ starvation_ and mass migration on an unprecedented scale. We need to act today to avert this looming catastrophe_ he added.

Russia is the world's third largest grains exporter and Ukriane fourth_ while Russia is also a key fuel and fertiliser exporter.

The war has disrupted their exports_ pushed world food inflations to record levels and triggered protests in low and middle income countries already contending with elevated food prices due to coronavirus related supply chain disruptions.

The UN report warned of "potentially sobering" implications for food security and nutrition as conflict_ climate extremes_ economic shocks and inequalities are being intensified.

It is estimated that globally in 2020_ 22 per cent of children under 5 were stunted while 6.7 per cent or 45 million suffered from wasting_ a deadly form of malnutrition that increases the risk of death by up to 12 times.

Calling for an overhaul of agricultural policies_ the report said the global food and agriculture sector received almost $630bn a year in support that often distorted market prices_ did not reach small-scale farmers_ hurt the environment and did not promote nutritious food production.