17% of Venezuelans suffer from undernourishment or hunger

Susana Raffalli, specialist in food security and member of Cáritas de Venezuela, assured that 17% of the country’s population suffers from undernourishment or hungermainly in vulnerable sectors such as children and women.

This occurs despite the slight improvement in food availability in many families. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), That 17% is equivalent to five million people.

Susana Raffalli pointed out that undernourishment, which is when a person does not consume enough food to meet their energy needs, not only depends on families’ access to food, but also on the country’s food self-sufficiency.

Between 8% and 10% of children who receive help from Cáritas suffer from severe malnutritionwhile 25% of women present nutritional risk, warned Susana Raffalli in an interview with Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias.

Almost 10 out of every 13 pregnant women cared for by Cáritas have nutritional deficiencies, hunger or other risks, which compromise both their health and the proper development of their babies.

The nutritionist highlighted that dependence on CLAP boxeswith its low nutritional value and high frequency of ultra-processed foods, does not solve the food crisis. The quarterly supply and its composition increase the risk of metabolic diseases in the population.

Given the food crisis, he urged the State to change course with policies that guarantee quality food, dignify the work of national producers and improve the food supply. He recommended resuming initiatives such as Mercal, Pedeval and baskettickets.