china.org.cn
Global Hunger Declines Slightly in 2024, but Regional Disparities Persist
The UN's 2025 SOFI report shows a slight global decrease in hunger in 2024 to 8.2 percent of the population (638-720 million), but this masks worsening trends in Africa and Western Asia due to conflict, displacement, and inflation; 2.6 billion people could not afford a healthy diet.
- What is the overall global trend in hunger levels in 2024, and what are the key regional disparities?
- Global hunger decreased slightly in 2024, affecting 15 million fewer people than in 2023, according to a UN report. However, hunger is rising in parts of Africa and Western Asia due to conflict and inflation. Between 638 and 720 million people experienced hunger in 2024.
- How significantly did food price inflation contribute to global food insecurity in 2024, and which populations were most affected?
- The decrease in global hunger is uneven, with improvements in South-East Asia, Southern Asia, and South America offset by worsening trends in Africa and Western Asia. High food prices, especially impacting low-income communities, are a major factor. Approximately 2.6 billion people couldn't afford a healthy diet in 2024.
- What are the major structural challenges impeding progress toward the 2030 goal of zero hunger, and what long-term strategies are needed to address them?
- The UN report highlights the persistent challenge of achieving global food security by 2030. Structural issues like conflict, climate change, inflation, and inequality continue to hinder progress, particularly in low-income countries where the number of people unable to afford healthy diets increased from 464 million in 2019 to 545 million in 2024. This signals the need for comprehensive strategies to address these root causes.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue of global hunger with a somewhat optimistic tone, starting with the positive news of a decline in overall hunger numbers. While this is accurate, it could be perceived as downplaying the severity of the situation in regions where hunger is worsening. The use of the introductory photo of Palestinians waiting for food could be interpreted as a framing device focusing on the human impact of hunger, even though the photo is not directly representative of the overall data trends discussed. The inclusion of this photograph might subconsciously influence the reader to connect the positive statistical trend with the image of scarcity, resulting in a more pessimistic perspective.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, employing statistical data and reports from UN agencies to support its claims. However, phrases such as "modest improvement" and "worsening hunger trends" carry a subjective connotation. While not overtly biased, these phrases could be replaced with more neutral terms like "slight decrease" and "increase in hunger levels" for greater objectivity.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on global hunger statistics but lacks specific details about the causes of hunger in Africa and Western Asia, aside from mentioning conflict, displacement, and economic instability. While it mentions high food prices, it doesn't delve into the underlying factors contributing to these high prices, such as supply chain issues, geopolitical events, or specific policy decisions. The lack of this granular information limits the reader's ability to fully understand the complexity of the issue and form well-informed opinions on potential solutions. Further, the article's single photo of Palestinians waiting for food in Gaza suggests a focus on a specific region, but omits other areas of high hunger with equal or greater need. This could leave the reader with an incomplete and possibly misleading impression of the global hunger crisis.
Sustainable Development Goals
The report shows a global decline in hunger levels for the second consecutive year, with 15 million fewer people affected than in 2023. However, this progress is uneven, with hunger rising in parts of Africa and Western Asia. The report highlights the impact of food crises, inflationary pressures, and conflict on food security, directly relating to SDG 2 targets to end hunger and achieve food security.