The world's hungriest countries
These countries need immediate life-saving help.
See Our Work in 55+ Countries
What Causes Hunger?
Florian Seriex
Action Against Hunger, Yemen
Why Does Hunger Happen?
The planet produces enough food to feed everyone on earth. Yet hunger is on the rise as more than 2.6 billion people can’t afford to eat a healthy diet. So, what is the reason?
Interconnected issues of poverty, inequity, conflict, climate change, gender discrimination, and weak government and health systems all play a role in keeping nutritious food out of reach for millions of families around the world.
The consequences are disastrous, and children are especially vulnerable. When children don’t have enough food, their brains and bodies suffer. Hunger stops them from growing, learning, working – from reaching their full potential. Without treatment, severe hunger can take children’s lives.
It doesn’t have to be this way: hunger is predictable, preventable, and treatable. With the right tools, we can save the lives of malnourished children and help them get the nutritious food they need to thrive. We can create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good – first, we must tackle its root causes.
Root Causes of Hunger
Inequity
Power determines who eats and who goes hungry, who lives and who dies.
Climate Change
The climate crisis is driving hunger and malnutrition around the world.
Conflict
Seventy-five percent of the world’s malnourished people live in conflict zones.
Disasters & Emergencies
Humanitarian emergencies disrupt and destroy livelihoods for millions of people.
Poverty
Extreme poverty, lack of sufficient food, and hunger are inextricably linked.
Dirty Water & Unsafe Sanitation
Without clean water, illnesses like diarrhea, parasites, and intestinal inflammation can prevent children from absorbing key nutrients and make them more susceptible to malnutrition.
How we fight hunger
We take decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger.
