Millions face catastrophic levels of hunger around the world as global hunger crisis worsens
Right now, we are facing a global hunger crisis that spans 71 countries and acutely affecting 309 million people. In places such as Gaza and Sudan, where violence has destroyed existing supply chains, high percentages of the populations are teetering on the brink of famine. And as with most crises, women and girls are being disproportionately impacted.
During crises, women and girls often eat last and least. This has massive impacts on their sexual and reproductive health – making things such as childbirth and pregnancy even more dangerous. Incidents of violence against women also skyrocket in households facing food insecurity.
The global hunger crisis is intrinsically tied to the health, safety, and prosperity of women and girls – and that’s why we’re working with partners around the world to reach women and girls with our lifesaving medical care.
96% of the population
After a year of war in Gaza that has destroyed supply chains and forced families to relocate multiple times over, 96% of the population is now facing critical levels of hunger.
To put that metric into perspective, an estimated 1.84 million people – including 42,000 pregnant women, are facing Phase 3 on the Integrated Food Security scale (IPC), which means they are facing crisis levels of hunger. IPC4 means that the hunger situation is an active emergency, and IPC5 means that the hunger has reached catastrophic and famine levels.
Right now, 11,000 pregnant women are facing IPC5 levels of hunger – and that number will likely surge as the winter sets in.
This level of hunger and malnutrition has wreaked havoc on the already collapsing healthcare system in Gaza. Since last October, Gaza has seen both miscarriages and maternal deaths increase by 300%. And still, when women and girls have food, they are ensuring that their children and husbands eat first.
“I was very afraid. I wasn’t ready for childbirth yet,” Jawaher, a displaced mother from northern Gaza shared with us. “I delivered my baby after two days of pain and fear. In the chaos and panic of being displaced, my newborn suffered a head injury.”
The UNFPA-supported hospital where Jawaher gave birth was able to save the life of her and her baby during the delivery – but now, she lacks essentials like diapers, clothes, milk, or even clean water. Both her and her baby are malnourished, and the winter hasn’t even set in yet.
“We need all the basic necessities for ourselves and our children. We are very tired,” Jawaher continued.
Famine declared in ZamZam Camp, North Darfur Sudan
More than 17 months after war broke out in Sudan, the country is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. A staggering 11 million people have been displaced in and around Sudan, and it is among the top four countries facing global acute malnutrition (GAM).
More than half of the population (25.6 million people) are facing acute hunger, including 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women who are severely malnourished. It’s estimated that hundreds of people are dying from starvation and hunger-related diseases each day.
Famine has been declared in the ZamZam refugee camp, and more than a dozen other areas are at risk of famine as well. Floods are also a massive concern for the worsening hunger crisis. Since June, nearly 600,000 people have been affected by severe flooding across Sudan, causing more displacement, destruction of resources, and putting those areas at increased risk of famine.
The impact of hunger on pregnant and breastfeeding women in Sudan has had catastrophic consequences. With the health system already collapsing, malnutrition has caused maternal deaths and complications such as anemia and fetal growth restriction to skyrocket across the nation.
Esraa lost her first child, a newborn boy, because she couldn’t safely reach a health clinic in time when an infection caused her son to develop breathing difficulties. When she became pregnant again in August, she was haunted by the fear of losing another child.
“I kept dreaming I’d lose this baby too,” she told us. “I was five months pregnant when I arrived at the shelter. For me, it was like moving from one grave to another. We were constantly expecting something bad to happen. Hope had no place in our hearts.”
Food in the camp was incredibly scarce, and overcrowding meant that basic hygiene was nearly impossible to maintain. Esraa had lost hope – but when a UNFPA mobile health team arrived, it was restored bit by bit. She received prenatal care and nutritional support from the team, and four months later gave birth to a healthy baby boy with the help of the mobile health team.
Thank you for making a difference
The global hunger crisis is a sexual and reproductive health crisis. That’s why we’re working in Sudan, Gaza, and other countries around the world to provide nutritional support and lifesaving health services to women and girls.
In Gaza this work has resulted in: five well-equipped maternal health units to address the rise in maternal deaths and complications, thousands of vials of medicines such as Anti-D and Oxytocin to prevent hemorrhages, 70,000 women and girls reached with gender-based violence prevention, and the distribution of micronutrients.
In Sudan, we have reached more than 185,000 people with our essential health services, supported 124 health facilities, and reached more than 92,000 people with our GBV prevention, mitigation, and response activities. We have also deployed 56 mobile health teams to meet women and girls where they are.
Thanks to our supporters, we are there with women and girls no matter what. As we enter into the giving season, we wanted to say thank you for being there with us when it matters most. Together, we are making a real impact on the lives of millions.