The Rise of Global Hunger

The world is currently experiencing a food crisis of unprecedented proportions. Conflict, climate extremes and poverty are among the primary drivers that have caused up to 309 million people across 71 countries to face chronic hunger.

The world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet. The issue isn’t supply—many of our global neighbors are unable to access nutritious food for themselves and their families due to challenges like extreme weather, food waste, conflict and gender.

Conflict is one of the greatest contributors to global hunger. In fact, 60% of the world’s hungriest people live in conflict zones, and 8 out of 10 of the world’s food crises are driven by war and persecution. Food insecurity worsens when conflict forces large numbers of people to flee their homes and livelihoods, and when it restricts access to life-saving assistance.

Communities around the world are also feeling the growing impact of climate change. The effects of changing climates, like drought or disasters, destroy crops and undermine a person’s ability to put food on the table for themselves and their families. Currently, over 80% of the world’s hungriest people live in disaster-prone areas, and over the last three decades, the number of extreme weather events has doubled.

Active conflicts and climate change can both cause food shortages and disrupt economic activities, the shocks of which further contribute to instability by driving up food prices in a dangerous cycle that forces many millions of people to go to sleep hungry. According to the World Food Program, in more than half of the countries experiencing conflict or natural disasters, economic shocks made the problem even worse, impacting 96 million people.

CWS walks alongside communities all around the globe to combat food insecurity. By empowering our program participants and exploring solutions that address the root causes of hunger, we are committed to securing the right to a sustainable and nourishing food supply for every community across the globe.