By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – The new report by FAO and WFP released on Wednesday warned that hunger in the Arab region has intensified amid escalating crises in 2023.
The report, titled 2024 Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, was launched by several UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme.
It revealed that 66.1 million people, or approximately 14 percent of the Arab region’s population, faced hunger in 2023.
The report indicated that access to adequate food remains a significant challenge, with 186.5 million people experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity, an increase from the previous year. Alarmingly, 72.7 million people faced severe food insecurity.
The report said that conflict is identified as the primary driver of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region, the report said.
Economic challenges, high income inequalities, and climate extremes further exacerbate the situation.
Rising food prices have also worsened the crisis, with undernourishment rates in conflict-affected countries soaring to 26.4 per cent, compared to 6.6 per cent in non-conflict areas.
It warned that food security and nutrition indicators are likely to deteriorate further due to ongoing conflicts and persistent droughts.
Economic access to healthy diets remains a critical issue, affecting over one-third of the population.
In 2022, 151.3 million people could not afford a healthy diet, with the highest rates in conflict-affected countries.
The Arab region continues to suffer from the triple burden of malnutrition, including rising trends in obesity, wasting, and nutrient deficiencies. Despite some progress in reducing stunting rates, achieving nutrition targets remains a challenge.
It stressed that adult obesity rates in the Arab States are also alarmingly high, the report warns, with a prevalence of 32.1 per cent in 2022, more than double the global rate.
Upper-middle-income countries, particularly Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait, have the highest rates of obesity.
The report underscored the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address food insecurity and malnutrition across the region.
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