News Center- Hunger in the Arab region worsened amid deepening crises in 2023, according to a UN report launched on Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

“In 2023, 66.1 million people, approximately 14 percent of the population in the Arab region, faced hunger,” the report says, highlighting that access to adequate food remains elusive for millions. “Around 186.5 million people – 39.4 percent of the population – faced moderate or severe food insecurity, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the previous year. Alarmingly, 72.7 million people experienced severe food insecurity.”

 The report's analysis shows that conflict is the main driver of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region. Economic challenges, high income inequalities, and climate extremes also play significant roles. Rising food prices have worsened the crisis. In 2023, undernourishment rates in conflict-affected countries soared to 26.4%, which is four times higher than the 6.6% in non-conflict areas.

“Tragically, food security and nutrition indicators are projected to deteriorate further due to ongoing conflicts coupled with persistent droughts across many parts of the region.”

The report also highlights that economic access to healthy diets remains a critical issue, affecting over one-third of the population in the Arab region.

“In 2022, new food price data and methodological improvements revealed that 151.3 million people could not afford a healthy diet. Conflict-affected countries experienced the highest rates, with 41.2% of their populations struggling to afford a healthy diet.”