In commemoration of the World Food Day, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Kimoon has called on stakeholders to expedite action to end hunger around the world.
He said this in a statement released by the UN’s Information Office that no fewer than 840 million people go hungry in a world of plenty.
According to Kimoon: “every day, more than 840 million people go hungry in a world of plenty. This fact alone should be cause for moral outrage and concerted action.”
On the other hand, Mr Kimoon also revealed that “two billion people suffer from the “hidden hunger” of malnutrition. Poor nutrition also means some 1.4 billion people are overweight, with about one-third obese and at risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes or other health problems.”
He advocates a better food system to tackle the challenge whilst acknowledging the efforts of many countries that have joined Zero Hunger Challenge.
“The key to better nutrition, and ultimately to ensuring each person’s right to food, lies in better food systems – smarter approaches, policies and investments encompassing the environment, people, institutions and processes by which agricultural products are produced, processed and brought to consumers in a sustainable manner.
“I am pleased that many countries around the world have joined our Zero Hunger Challenge and pledged to work together for sustainable food systems.”
The UN Chief concluded by imploring everyone to join hands in achieving zero hunger: “Together, we can help make sure that everyone has enough nutritious food each and every day. On this World Food Day, let us aim for achieving zero hunger in our lifetimes for one and all.”
World Food Day is an event celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.
The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme.