Welthungerhilfe warns that the world is far from the goal of defeating hunger by 2030. Wars, corona and climate change made the situation worse. To do nothing is “murder,” says Development Minister Müller.
Welthungerhilfe has warned of an increase in famine. Secretary General Mathias Mogge said the editorial network Germany: “We have deviated dramatically from the zero hunger course by 2030, because hunger is on the rise again.” Around 811 million people around the world are currently starving, which is almost a tenth of the world’s population. And 41 million are on the verge of famine.
“The current global hunger index shows that 47 countries will not even reach a low level of hunger by 2030,” said Mogge. Welthungerhilfe is presenting the so-called World Hunger Index 2021 this Thursday. The international report determines the global situation and is intended to show where progress has been made and in which countries there is the greatest need for action.
The outgoing Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) castigated the situation with sharp words: “Hunger is murder, because we have the knowledge and the technology to satisfy everyone”, he said the Augsburger Allgemeine. The fact that 15,000 children starve to death every day is “an unbelievable scandal”.
The food situation is deteriorating because of the many different crises, according to Secretary General Mogge: wars and conflicts, climate change and the consequences of the corona pandemic. Violent conflicts have increased again in recent years. You are one of the greatest hunger drivers. “Where there is war, crops, fields and infrastructure are destroyed and people flee their villages,” said Mogge. What is needed are “political initiatives to contain the conflicts worldwide” and “financial efforts to counteract the acute famine”. In addition, the upcoming UN climate conference in Glasgow must make binding agreements to combat climate change.
Development Minister Müller also said: “We must finally understand the fight against hunger and poverty as a forward-looking peace policy – and put it at the top of the global political agenda.” A world without hunger is basically possible: “With an additional 40 billion euros per year for sustainable food and agriculture by the industrialized, private and developing countries, hunger can be defeated by 2030.”