more than 5 million people are hungry

Susana Rafalli, an expert in nutrition and humanitarian assistance, recently highlighted the seriousness of the food insecurity in Venezuelawhere At least 5.1 million people are hungry.

During a virtual meeting with the Movement in Defense of the Constitution and Democracy (Decode), Rafalli highlighted that the food crisis in the country is compared to those faced by nations at war or affected by natural disasters.

Food insecurity in Venezuela

Around 5 million Venezuelans suffer from severe food insecuritywhich means that they do not have regular access to sufficient and nutritious food, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Venezuelan situation is worsened by the shortage of basic foods, the increase in prices and the decrease in the purchasing power of the population.

Childhood acute malnutrition exceeds the regional average of South America four timesa situation that is aggravated by the decrease in international cooperation and the difficulties in accessing basic foods, according to Rafalli.

The expert highlighted that the food crisis has led families to adopt extreme survival strategies, such as reducing the number of meals, borrowing food or even skipping meals. Furthermore, chronic malnutrition in boys and girls is generating a negative impact on their long-term physical and cognitive development.

The FAO points out that Approximately 6 million Venezuelans – about 17% of the population – face a situation of moderate and severe food insecurity.

The 2022 UN Regional Panorama of Food and Nutrition Security indicated that Venezuela has the highest prevalence of undernourishment in South America.

Rafalli warned that the consequences of this food crisis are devastating for the health and development of the population, especially for children, pregnant women and the elderly.