Surging food prices fuel 40 percent jump in global hunger: UN

‘High food prices are hunger’s new best friend,’ the United Nations World Food Programme’s chief economist said on Thursday.

Acute food insecurity has soared 40 percent this year as recent food price hikes have exacerbated existing pressures from conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said. Defined as any lack of food that threatens lives, livelihoods or both, acute food insecurity is affecting, or is at high risk of affecting, a record 270 million people this year, the UN agency said. “High food prices are hunger’s new best friend,” said WFP Chief Economist Arif Husain.