World hunger on the rise in 2021

World hunger rose for the second consecutive year in 2021 after remaining relatively stable since 2014, the United Nations reported Wednesday. About 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe hunger, and the number of those unable to afford a healthy diet rose by 112 million to almost 3.1 billion. Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean were the most affected. 

Why are the numbers rising? One of the biggest factors was the global pandemic, but the report said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could exacerbate the problem. Together, Russia and Ukraine account for a third of the world’s food supply, while Russia and Belarus are the two top suppliers of a key ingredient in fertilizer. It said the war in Ukraine disrupted supply chains, which raised the price of grain, fertilizer, and energy.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour on how the global food crisis is affecting Africans.