The Asia-Pacific region is facing a hunger and malnutrition crisis as millions of people struggle to afford a healthy diet amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the soaring prices of food, feed, fuel, fertilizers and finance, according to a new report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The report, released on Monday, warns that the region, which accounts for half of the world’s undernourished and severely food insecure people, is far from achieving the goal of ending hunger by 2030.
The report reveals that the cost of a healthy diet increased by an average of 5.3 percent in purchasing power parity (PPP) in the region, making it unaffordable for 232.8 million people. Women and children are especially vulnerable, as they suffer from higher rates of anaemia, stunting, wasting and overweight.
Southern Asia is the worst-hit subregion, with 15.6 percent (313.6 million) of its population undernourished and more than 809 million facing moderate or severe food insecurity. The South-West Pacific Islands also have a high prevalence of undernourishment, affecting one in five inhabitants.
The report attributes the worsening situation to the combined effects of the pandemic and the “5Fs” crisis, which have disrupted food production, supply chains, incomes and livelihoods. It also points out the challenges posed by climate change, natural disasters, conflicts and pests, which threaten the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems.
The report calls for urgent and coordinated actions and investments by governments and stakeholders to transform agrifood systems and ensure food security and nutrition for all.
“This report is by no means exhaustive. However, the facts presented serve as food for thought. At the same time, they will not put meals on the table of the many food-insecure and nutritionally vulnerable people living in this part of the world,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.
“Clearly, there is an urgent call for whole-of-government, well-coordinated and integrated actions and investments towards agrifood systems transformation if we are to turn the tide and put the countries back on track to meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals,” Kim said.
