Malnutrition in the world: Don’t look away

Hunger is as easy to understand as it is complicated to eradicate. It affects billions of people in the world. The Global Hunger Index, which comes out every year, gives an overview of world hunger, of the progress made (as well as the setbacks), and of the changes needed to reach food security for all.

Global Index Hunger (GIH) numbers

Our planet produces enough food for its 8 billion inhabitants, yet 733 million of them (1 in 11) go hungry every day. In Africa, the situation is dire: 1 in 5 people suffer from hunger every day. What's more, 2.8 billion people – i.e. 35% of the world's population - cannot afford a nutritious diet. The number of people suffering from hunger has increased by 152 million since 2019. Every year, 2.45 million children under 5 die from malnutrition.

2024 review

As we head into 2025, here's what we need to remember:

Reaching Zero Hunger by 2030 no longer seems possible. Progress has slowed considerably, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia, where malnutrition and infant mortality rates remain higher than ever. This phenomenon is worsened by inadequate nutrition, economic difficulties and climate change.  

Since 2020, hunger has drastically increased, namely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and adverse weather events. If the trends remain at their current pace, we will need to wait until 2160 to reach low hunger — more than 130 years from now.

The three main causes of world hunger

1. Poverty: Families living in poverty cannot afford to eat enough; when they can, their food often lacks essential nutrients.

2. Climate change: The number of natural disasters is increasing, worsening food insecurity for vulnerable communities.

3. Pandemics & conflicts: These events have considerably heightened global food shortages.

The devastating effects of malnutrition

If a young child suffers from malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of its life, the consequences can be permanent. Pregnant women, in particular, need essential nutrients to give birth to healthy children. Maternal malnutrition affects new-borns, extending the cycle of malnutrition. Women and children, who are considered the most vulnerable people groups, are also the most affected by food insecurity and climate emergencies.

A difficult, but not hopeless, situation

The current figures are distressing, and should serve as a wake-up call to accelerate our efforts towards more equitable, resilient and nutritious food systems. However, between 2000 and 2016, significant progress was made in the fight against hunger, proving that real results can be achieved. While hunger may not be eradicated in our lifetime, we must continue to fight for progress and ensure that access to food is a priority.  

What we do to give hope for the future

In countries like Afghanistan and South Sudan, our health and nutrition programmes target the most vulnerable. Our projects range from key sectors such as cash assistance, access to water and sanitation (WASH), and health and nutrition, while considering the effects of climate change. In 2023, Medair supported more than 3.5 million people all over the world, including 990,000 people suffering from hunger.

Hope in the face of challenge

The current trend in the humanitarian sector is alarming: funding does not always go to those who need it the most. The most vulnerable must be prioritised at all times, whatever their ethnicity or religion. Every life matters.  

In the face of challenge, hope remains. Our CEO asked our Afghan colleagues what motivated them to come to work every day, when living conditions in Afghanistan are becoming increasingly difficult. “Their courage gives us courage,” was their reply, “and our courage gives them courage, and Medair’s courage gives us courage. Together we start to have hope that things will improve.”  

All of Medair’s programmes in the field are funded by generous institutional and private donors.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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