On September 24, 2024, a report from five UN agencies revealed that between 713 and 757 million people faced hunger in 2023, representing 8.9 to 9.4 percent of the global population. The report highlights that global hunger levels have plateaued for three consecutive years, with 152 million more people experiencing hunger compared to 2019.
Approximately 2.33 billion people, or 28.9 percent of the global population, were moderately or severely food insecure in 2023. The report emphasizes the urgent need for increased financing to combat child malnutrition, with one in four children under five suffering from undernutrition.
The report also identifies conflict-driven food crises in regions such as Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine. In Gaza, 96 percent of the population faces acute food insecurity, with 495,000 experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. The World Food Programme has warned that famine is a reality in Gaza, underscoring the dire need for humanitarian assistance.