“As 811 million people go to bed hungry every night, the number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared - from 135 million to 345 million - since 2019. A total of 50 million people in 45 countries are teetering on the edge of famine,” WFP said. “While needs are sky-high, resources have hit rock bottom. The World Food Programme (WFP) requires US$22.2 billion to reach 137 million people in 2022. However, with the global economy reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the gap between needs and funding is bigger than ever before.”

Warning that the humanity is at a critical crossroads, the organization went on to say: “To avert the hunger catastrophe the world is facing, everyone must step up alongside government donors, whose generous donations constitute the bulk of WFP’s funding. Private sector companies can support our work through technical assistance and knowledge transfers, as well as financial contributions. High net-worth individuals and ordinary citizens alike can all play a part, and youth, influencers and celebrities can raise their voices against the injustice of global hunger.

“Unless the necessary resources are made available, lost lives and the reversal of hard-earned development gains will be the price to pay,” the organization added. (ILKHA)