More than 200 NGOs have reported that nearly 19,700 people die of hunger every day, which means that one person dies of hunger every four seconds. She said 345 million people are currently living in extreme hunger, a number that has more than doubled since 2019.
More than 200 non-governmental organizations warned Tuesday that it is estimated that one person dies every four seconds in the world, and called for decisive international action to "end the escalating crisis of hunger in the world."
"Organizations from 75 countries have signed an open letter expressing their outrage at the extremely high levels of hunger and (making) recommendations for action," the bodies said in a statement, warning that "a shocking number of 345 million people are currently living in a state of extreme hunger." A number that has more than doubled since 2019.”
"Despite world leaders' pledges to never allow famine in the 21st century, famine is imminent in Somalia. Around the world, 50 million people are on the brink of famine in 45 countries," the statement added.
While the organizations have estimated that nearly 19,700 people die of starvation every day, they stated that this translates into one person dying of starvation every four seconds.
This open letter was published on the occasion of the launch of the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, which brings together senior political leaders and representatives of civil society during a week witnessing the most important diplomatic gathering in the world.
Muhanna Ahmed Ali Al-Jabali of the Yemeni Family Welfare Society, one of the signatories to the letter, said it was "terrible that with all these agricultural techniques today, we are still talking about starvation in the 21st century."
He added, "It is not related to one country or one continent and there is never just one cause for hunger. It is about the lack of justice in all of humanity."
He continued, "We should not wait for another moment to focus on providing life-saving food and longer-term support so that people can take charge of their own future and provide for their needs and the needs of their families."