10 things to know about hunger
Global hunger has risen for a third consecutive year. Image: REUTERS/Mohamed Dahir
Global hunger rose in 2017 for a third consecutive year, fuelled by conflict and climate change, the United Nations revealed in a report published on Tuesday. Obesity levels also increased.
Here are some facts and figures from the report.
- World hunger levels rose in 2017 for the third consecutive year.
- Globally 821 million people, or one in nine, do not have enough food to eat.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, more than one in four may have suffered from chronic hunger in 2017.
- Asia has the largest number of undernourished people due to is sheer size - 515 million.
- Nearly 151 million children under five suffered from stunting due to malnutrition, a condition that hampers physical and mental development.
- More than 50 million children under five are too thin for their height and more than 38 million are overweight.
- One in eight adults - 672 million - is obese.
- Almost 36 percent of countries that experienced a rise in hunger since 2005 also suffered from severe drought.
- Floods cause more climate-related disasters globally than any other extreme climate event.
- Between 2011 and 2016, 51 low- and middle-income countries experienced early or delayed onset of seasons.
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