The UN chief has warned that with 735 million people going hungry last year and three billion unable to afford a healthy diet, the world is “going backwards on our goal of zero hunger by 2030”.
Addressing the Committee on World Food Security in Rome, António Guterres underscored that the session was taking place “at a moment of crisis for global food security” and provided some sobering statistics.
In a video message, the Secretary-General said last year, 735 million people went hungry and that currently, more than 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet.
Guterres emphasized that hunger and malnutrition are not just problems but human rights violations “on an epic scale”, painting a vivid picture of the dire consequences of the rolling crisis.
He has thus called for effective international solidarity to transform food systems for all people.
