Food insecurity takes its toll on women and girls in a world hit by hunger

The level of hunger is serious or alarming in 42 countries, with Burundi, Chad, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen leading the way

The situation worsens in rural areas and countries affected by conflicts

Oct. 10 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Women and girls face a higher risk of food insecurity and malnutrition in a world where hunger continues to rage despite international commitments, shows the 2024 Global Hunger Index, a report that aims to a “paralysis” in the fight against a situation that is especially affecting the populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where hunger remains serious.

This new report places the global hunger index at 18.3 – within a scale of one hundred -, a figure slightly lower than that of 2016, when 18.8 was recorded. This stagnation is one more example of the difficulties that crises pose when it comes to taking measures to reduce hunger internationally.

Despite the position of the international community, adequate access to food continues to be an unguaranteed right and, according to these data, if the current trend continues, low levels of hunger will not be reached until the year 2160, which is why the importance of “promoting gender transformative approaches in food systems to reverse the situation.”

The text – published by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Concern Worldwide and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) – points out that hunger and gender inequality “are critically intertwined”, in such a way that Women and girls are placed in a position of extreme vulnerability due to discrimination and gender violence.

Likewise, it highlights that women disproportionately suffer the effects of extreme weather events and climate emergencies, which is why it is necessary to address all these challenges equitably, recognizing the different needs of the population. The objective, according to the document, is to guarantee the representation and participation of women in decision-making processes at all levels and to introduce the necessary reforms to “incorporate gender justice at all levels.”

However, the prospect of achieving the Zero Hunger Goal by 2030 is daunting. For the director of Ayuda en Acción Advocacy, Alberto Casado, this reflects a “paralysis in the fight against hunger reduction.” Thus, he lamented that “at the current rate, the world will not reach low levels of hunger until the year 2160, which represents a delay of 130 years with respect to international commitments.”

Index data shows that 43 countries show alarming or serious levels of hunger, with Burundi (44.1 points), Chad (36.4), Madagascar (36.3), Somalia (44.1) and Yemen (41.2) in the lead. It is in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest levels of hunger, that progress has been virtually non-existent since 2016, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, hunger levels have worsened due to rising food inflation and extreme debt conditions.

In total, 733 million people – significantly more than a decade ago – lack access to sufficient calories, while 2.8 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Acute food insecurity and the risk of famine are increasing, as reflected in this report, which warns that hunger is becoming a weapon of war.

Underlying these alarming statistics is a state of “permacrisis” stemming from widespread conflict, the growing effects of climate change, economic disruption, debt crises and inequality. However, countries such as Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nepal, Somalia and Togo have seen notable progress, although many challenges remain in achieving the right to food in the world.

NEW FOOD CRISES

Furthermore, protracted conflicts in regions such as Gaza and Sudan have triggered unprecedented food crises, while in other places, such as Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, food insecurity has been worsened by political instability, violence and climate impacts.

This leads to an increase in the food security gap of 19 percentage points between men and women in some regions of the world, an “alarming reality in which gender inequality plays a crucial role,” according to the text, which aims to that this situation is even more critical in countries affected by conflict, where women who live in poverty, in rural areas, in informal employment or who are refugees or migrants face additional risks and greater barriers to accessing food.

Pilar Lara, from the Ayuda en Acción Advocacy team, has warned of the serious risk posed by climate change: “droughts, floods and other extreme weather phenomena force many women to travel greater distances to obtain water or look for food, which which increases their workload and leaves them less time to take care of their own nutrition or that of their families.

“On the other hand, agricultural and financial policies continue to leave aside the profound gender inequalities that underlie food systems, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and malnutrition,” said Lara, who pointed out that it is “urgent to prioritize women.” on the global agenda”.

That is why the report claims gender justice as a fundamental pillar to achieve food security and climate resilience, which implies “not only the recognition of the different needs and situations of vulnerability that women face, but also equitable redistribution of resources and equal representation in decision-making processes,” as the report indicates.

“Global hunger will not be resolved without addressing gender inequality,” he noted before stating that “women are not only victims of this crisis but also essential agents of change in the production and distribution of food,” so ” “Their empowerment is crucial to building more resilient societies in the face of food crises.”

“Without significant investment in these sectors, women will continue to be relegated to a disadvantaged position, and efforts to reduce hunger will be insufficient,” he stressed.

The report calls for accountability under International Law and regarding the right to adequate food, and therefore asks States to maintain and expand their legal obligations to eliminate gender discrimination, guarantee the right to food and alleviate hunger, even during disasters and conflicts. Furthermore, it is vitally important to “redistribute public resources to correct structural inequalities and allow gender-equitable access” to food.