UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Nearly 282 million people in 59 countries suffered from acute hunger in 2023, with war-torn Gaza as the territory with the largest number of people facing famine, according to the Global Report on Food Crises released Wednesday.
The U.N. report said 24 million more people faced an acute lack of food than in 2022, due to the sharp deterioration in food security, especially in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. The number of nations with food crises that are monitored has also been expanded.
Máximo Torero, chief economist for the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, said 705,000 people in five countries are at Phase 5, the highest level, on a scale of hunger determined by international experts — the highest number since the global report began in 2016 and quadruple the number that year.
Over 80% of those facing imminent famine — 577,000 people — were in Gaza, he said. South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Mali each host many thousands also facing catastrophic hunger.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gets emotional during 'life
Treasurer denies South Carolina Senate accusation he risked cyberattack in missing $1.8B case
Indian police kill 29 suspected Maoist rebels in a gunbattle in a central state
Traveler issues severe warning to any 'morning people' who want to visit Argentina
USDA updates rules for school meals that limit added sugars for the first time
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
The push for school choice in Nebraska is pitting lawmakers against their constituents
New Jersey Democrat Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65 after heart attack
Gordon Ramsay serves papers to masked pub squatters who trashed TV chef's £13million London boozer
Indigenous group detains 12 alleged gold miners in Amazon and hands them over to Brazilian police
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities