The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 349 million people in 79 countries are facing "acute food insecurity," an increase of 200 million people from before the pandemic. This sudden surge has caused the organization and others like it to warn that the world is hungrier than ever.
There are several reasons for the dangerous food shortage, and world leaders caution that the lack of needed nutrition will lead to death and massive social upheaval.
Public health experts determine whether an area is experiencing famine based on the daily death rate and the percentage of undernourished children. The WFP estimates that 49 million people in 49 countries are on the verge of famine. This figure includes almost 900,000 people already experiencing famine or near-famine conditions in countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
Famine is the most extreme level of a food shortage. Public health officials also monitor ...
