UN warns of global food crisis

THE number of people without enough to eat on a daily basis reached an all-time high last year and is poised to hit “appalling” new levels as the war in Ukraine affects global food production, the United Nations said.

Almost 193 million people in 53 countries suffered acute food insecurity in 2021 due to what the UN said was a “toxic triple combination” of conflict, weather extremes and the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The UN said the total number of people without adequate food every day increased by 40 million last year, confirming a “worrisome trend” of annual increases over several years.