Hunger

Every day, one in five of the world's population - some 800 million people - go hungry.

Hunger Fact File - based on the work of the UN Millennium Task Force on Hunger*

Defining Hunger

Hunger: The discomfort, pain or weakness caused by the need for food (Hunger Task Force 2003)

Chronic Hunger can be defined as the condition of constant undernourishment or recurring seasonal undernourishment. It results in stunted children and high child mortality due to hunger related diseases (HTF, 2003).

Acute Hunger involves severe undernourishment over a distinct period, is reflected in wasting and starvation, and is caused by emergency situations which require immediate food aid (HTF, 2003).

Hidden Hunger refers to micronutrient and/ or vitamin deficiencies found in vast numbers of people who otherwise have access to adequate calories and protein (HTF, 2003).

Food Security

A condition where all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (FAO).

This definition adheres to the principle that everyone has a Right to Adequate Food, to be free from hunger as enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights (UN Economic and Social Council, 1999).