War and Climate Change Increase Hunger

“Despite international agreements, there has been another increase in the number of people going to bed hungry. We know that war and the consequences of climate change are increasing the level of hunger worldwide. By 2017 nearly 40 million people could no longer feed themselves healthily due to climate events. Floods, droughts and storms destroy entire livelihoods. Hunger also contributes to inequality. Women, ethnic minorities, and small farmers are particularly threatened by hunger due to their legal, social, and economic disadvantage. At the same time, in South Sudan for example, we see that the situation can improve in individual regions when armed conflicts abate. While more than 60% of the population can no longer feed themselves adequately, there are areas where we are now supporting agricultural production again. As soon as the guns fall silent, people put their fields back in order. To end wars and conflicts worldwide, and to help the poorest countries to adapt more effectively to climate change, requires immediate action from a strong international community. Because we have enough resources to adequately feed all the people in the world”, says Mathias Mogge, General Secretary of Welthungerhilfe.