Global Hunger: According to the World Food Security and Nutrition Report, between 691 and 783 million people will endure hunger in 2022, with a mid-point of 735 million, marking a 122 million rise from 2019. It also adds up to a dismal warning, potentially compromising the SDG of eradicating hunger.

“Overall, we require an immediate and intense global effort to save the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” “From conflict to climate change, we must build resilience against the crises and shocks that drive food insecurity,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message announcing the report.

It demonstrates that hunger has increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and across Africa, where one in every five people — more than twice the world average — is hungry. Only Asia and Latin America saw improvements in food security.

In addition to increased hunger, people’s ability to get healthful foods has diminished globally. According to a report released jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 3.1 billion people worldwide will be unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021.

According to the research, 148 million children under the age of five were stunted (have a low height for their age), 45 million were wasted (have a low weight), and 37 million were overweight, which is typically an indicator of inadequate nutrition.

“Malnutrition is a major threat to children’s survival, growth, and development,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

Children’s malnutrition also manifests differently in urban and rural settings, according to the survey, which noted that the prevalence of child stunting was higher in rural areas (35.8 percent) than in urban areas (22.4 percent).

Similarly, waste was higher in rural areas (10.5%) than in urban areas (7.7%), whereas being overweight is slightly more prevalent in urban areas (5.4%) than in rural ones (3.5%).

“The magnitude of the nutrition crisis necessitates a more focused response on children,” Russell said. “This includes prioritizing access to nutritious and affordable diets and essential nutrition services, protecting children and adolescents from nutrient-poor, ultra-processed foods, and strengthening food and nutrition supply chains, including fortified and therapeutic foods for children.”