Africa ignores food crisis alarm bells - report
An unprecedented food crisis is looming for Africa, with about 20% of the population undernourished, while 78% cannot afford a healthy diet.
This according to a new report, which said alarm bells that are ringing are ignored as Africa continues to face a deepening food crisis.
The report was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of (FAO), the African Union Commission, the Economic Commission for Africa and the World Food Programme.
The ‘Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition- Statistics and Trends 2023’ report highlighted alarming statistics on food insecurity and malnutrition that underscore the urgent need for comprehensive action.
Nearly 282 million people in Africa are undernourished, an increase of 57 million since the Covid-19 pandemic started, it read.
It further found that the prevalence of undernourishment is nearly 20% in Namibia, while the prevalence of severe food security in the country is close to 70%.
Step up efforts
More than a billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet and around 30% of children are stunted because of malnutrition, according to the report.
“The deterioration of the food security situation and the lack of progress towards the World Health Organisation global nutrition targets make it imperative for countries to step up their efforts if they are to achieve a world without hunger and malnutrition by 2030,” FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said.
The report found that the prevalence of stunting among children under five was 30% in 2022, which remains high despite a substantial improvement over the past two decades.
Wasting in children in the region remained just below the global estimate of 6.8% in 2022 and was relatively high in all sub-regions, except southern Africa, it said.
Furthermore, it noted that the prevalence of anaemia among adult women remains high in Africa, above the global estimate.
“Despite modest progress in Africa in the reduction of the prevalence of low birthweight during the last two decades, it was still high compared to the global estimate. The prevalence of adult obesity in northern and southern Africa is about twice the global estimate.”
Unaffordable for most
Meanwhile, the majority of Africa’s population – about 78%, or more than one billion people – remain unable to afford a healthy diet, compared with 42% at the global level, and this number is rising, it said.
The report found that in Namibia, 60% of the population is unable to afford a healthy diet.
The average cost of a healthy diet has been increasing over time, and was at 3.57 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day in 2021 in Africa, which is much higher than the extreme poverty threshold of US$2.15 per person per day.
“This means that not only the poor - but also a large proportion of people defined as non-poor - cannot afford a healthy diet in Africa.
This according to a new report, which said alarm bells that are ringing are ignored as Africa continues to face a deepening food crisis.
The report was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of (FAO), the African Union Commission, the Economic Commission for Africa and the World Food Programme.
The ‘Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition- Statistics and Trends 2023’ report highlighted alarming statistics on food insecurity and malnutrition that underscore the urgent need for comprehensive action.
Nearly 282 million people in Africa are undernourished, an increase of 57 million since the Covid-19 pandemic started, it read.
It further found that the prevalence of undernourishment is nearly 20% in Namibia, while the prevalence of severe food security in the country is close to 70%.
Step up efforts
More than a billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet and around 30% of children are stunted because of malnutrition, according to the report.
“The deterioration of the food security situation and the lack of progress towards the World Health Organisation global nutrition targets make it imperative for countries to step up their efforts if they are to achieve a world without hunger and malnutrition by 2030,” FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said.
The report found that the prevalence of stunting among children under five was 30% in 2022, which remains high despite a substantial improvement over the past two decades.
Wasting in children in the region remained just below the global estimate of 6.8% in 2022 and was relatively high in all sub-regions, except southern Africa, it said.
Furthermore, it noted that the prevalence of anaemia among adult women remains high in Africa, above the global estimate.
“Despite modest progress in Africa in the reduction of the prevalence of low birthweight during the last two decades, it was still high compared to the global estimate. The prevalence of adult obesity in northern and southern Africa is about twice the global estimate.”
Unaffordable for most
Meanwhile, the majority of Africa’s population – about 78%, or more than one billion people – remain unable to afford a healthy diet, compared with 42% at the global level, and this number is rising, it said.
The report found that in Namibia, 60% of the population is unable to afford a healthy diet.
The average cost of a healthy diet has been increasing over time, and was at 3.57 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day in 2021 in Africa, which is much higher than the extreme poverty threshold of US$2.15 per person per day.
“This means that not only the poor - but also a large proportion of people defined as non-poor - cannot afford a healthy diet in Africa.
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