Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean

A new United Nations report released by agencies including FAO, IFAD, PAHO/WHO, WFP, and UNICEF looks at the hunger and nutrition crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The hunger crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean is severe, with 43.2 million people suffering from hunger, a stark reminder of the challenges faced post-COVID-19 pandemic. Food insecurity, which includes cutting meal size, skipping meals, or going without food, affected nearly 248 million people in 2022. In Latin America, millions of people are malnourished. The Caribbean has over 7 million hungry people, 16.3% of its population. 

One of the main issues exacerbating the hunger crisis is the high cost of food. Latin America and the Caribbean are the most expensive regions in the world for a healthy diet, averaging $4.08 per person per day compared to a global average of $3.66. This financial burden makes balanced meals financially out of reach for millions, further worsening the hunger crisis. 

Women, rural residents, and marginalized groups such as Afro-descendant and indigenous populations are affected, which shows the inequalities they have been facing in access to food, healthcare, and economic opportunities. 

Other factors that affect hunger are inflation on food prices, climate disasters such as droughts, hurricanes, and floods that damage crops, and rising poverty post-pandemic. This causes populations to gravitate towards calorie-dense and nutrient-poor foods. 

The sobering reality is that the goals set for zero hunger by the Sustainable Development Goals may not be achieved if immediate and effective actions are not taken to address the hunger crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

To help vulnerable communities, social protection programs such as school feeding can be expanded. Investments can be made in climate-resilient agriculture to make healthy diets more affordable. There can be workshops to teach the communities the importance of nutrients and a healthy lifestyle. These small changes help people become more nourished and ensure they are leading a healthy lifestyle.

Thank you for reading,

Manasvini Nori

Source:

UN Report