Despite global output surplus, chronic food shortage a reality for millions

In 2017, 70 mn people are likely to be food insecure; of them 20 mn are at an imminent risk of death

The world today again stands on the precipice of a global humanitarian disaster. Despite a surplus in global food production, chronic food insecurity is a reality for millions. As per assessments, 70 million people are likely to be food insecure in 2017 of which a whopping 20 million are at an imminent risk of death by mass starvation in 4 countries – Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria. To put that number in context, total casualties from famine in the whole of 20th century – a century beset with major disasters such as those in Bengal (1943), China (Great leap