Global hunger crisis hit five year high in 2020 as 155 million people faced severe food insecurity, new U.N. report says

An estimated 155 million people across the globe faced severe food insecurity and were in need of urgent assistance in 2020, according to a U.N. report published Wednesday. Researchers found the number of people experiencing food insecurity at or above a "crisis" level has risen to its highest level in five years, with an increase of nearly 20 million people compared to 2019 — and are warning that millions are at risk of famine if action isn't taken. 

"155 million people in 55 countries relied on humanitarian assistance just to survive — an unprecedented high and just the tip of the iceberg" World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley said as he announced the report's results.  According to the 307-page report, 155 million people were in one of the three most severe phases it uses to characterize food insecurity: "Crisis," "Emergency," and "Catastrophe/Famine." All 155 million people in the estimated tally are at least experiencing "Crisis," which signifies "high or above usual acute malnutrition" or people who can only meet their minimum food needs "by depleting essential livelihoods or through crisis-coping strategies."