These are times of extreme jeopardy for millions of people struggling to feed their families. Across the globe, as many as 309 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity in 2024 in the 72 countries with WFP operations and where data is available. The World Food Programme (WFP) supports countries' efforts to reach zero hunger by 2030, a target agreed by governments under the Sustainable Development Agenda and specifically Sustainable Development Goal 2.

What are the causes of hunger?

Conflict is the primary driver of today's hunger crisis. Conflict drives people away from their land and livelihoods, disrupts markets, ratchets up food prices and destroys critical developmental gains. Its devastating impact can be seen across hunger hotspots including Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine.  

The climate emergency is also one of the leading causes of hunger. Extremes including floods, droughts and heatwaves destroy lives, livelihoods and crops, while degrading soils and damaging infrastructure and agricultural assets. 

Inequality is another key factor. When food prices rise due to struggling economies and external factors – for example the war in Ukraine – the poorest people struggle even more to put nutritious food on the table. The worst affected are children, women and girls, with long-term consequences for their physical and mental development.  Among other factors, around 30 per cent of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted every year. On the production side, lack of access to technology and markets means many farmers are forced to watch their crops rot in fields.

What are the effects of hunger?

Diets poor in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients affect the health and life prospects of millions of people. Malnourished children are up to 12 times more likely to die than a healthy child and, for those who survive, malnutrition can impair their health and development for life. Malnutrition slows economic growth and perpetuates poverty, with the impact on children's education and workforce skills having dire consequences for countries' human capital and future development.  

As part of a vicious cycle, hunger can also fuel conflict as well as vice-versa. People forced from their land may be vying with others for scarce resources, especially in areas where poverty and inequality are already present. 

When does hunger become famine?

Famine is the most severe form of food insecurity. It can be declared when malnutrition is widespread, and people have started dying of starvation through lack of access to sufficient, nutritious food. Among the most vulnerable groups are internally displaced people and refugees caught between the frontlines of hunger, many of whom are totally dependent on food assistance for their survival.