In 2024, a staggering 18.2 million children entered the world into the shadow of hunger, a crisis that translates to over 35 births per minute.
This grim reality underscores the pervasive and systemic issue of malnutrition and food insecurity that continues to plague many parts of the world.
Among the nations grappling with this humanitarian crisis, Pakistan stands out, accounting for 1.4 million of these births.
According to a recent report by Save the Children, Pakistan ranks second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) among countries with over 20 percent of the population undernourished.
Hunger is a multifaceted issue driven by a combination of political, economic, environmental, and social factors.
Globally, over 735 million people were estimated to face hunger in 2023, a number that shows no signs of significant reduction in 2024.
The increasing frequency of climate disasters, protracted conflicts, economic instability, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to worsening food insecurity.
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia remain the epicentres of this crisis.
Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Somalia are grappling with extreme levels of hunger, often compounded by armed conflict and political instability.
In South Asia, Pakistan’s worsening food security indicators reflect broader systemic issues that require urgent intervention.
Pakistan: The hunger hotspot
Pakistan’s inclusion among the countries most affected by hunger is a sobering reality.
Save the Children’s report highlights that over 20 percent of Pakistan’s population suffers from undernourishment.
This figure is exacerbated by the country’s growing population, which reached 241 million in 2024, and persistent socio-economic challenges.
Drivers of hunger in Pakistan
Economic instability: Pakistan’s economy has faced significant turbulence in recent years, marked by rising inflation, a depreciating currency, and mounting debt. These factors have diminished purchasing power, making basic food items unaffordable for millions.
Climate change: The country is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing frequent floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. The catastrophic floods of 2022 and subsequent agricultural losses have had a lasting impact on food production and availability.
Political uncertainty: Political instability and inadequate governance have hampered effective policymaking and implementation, including efforts to address food security.
Health and education: High levels of poverty, coupled with inadequate healthcare and education, exacerbate malnutrition. A lack of awareness about nutritional needs and limited access to healthcare facilities contribute to alarming rates of child stunting and wasting.
Impact on children
The statistics are particularly alarming for children. Pakistan has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition globally, with nearly 40 percent of children under five suffering from stunted growth.
Malnutrition not only affects physical development but also impairs cognitive abilities, trapping children in a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.
The Democratic Republic of Congo: A comparative glance
The Democratic Republic of Congo, which ranks as the most undernourished country globally, presents an equally harrowing picture.
Decades of conflict, displacement, and economic stagnation have left millions of Congolese in need of humanitarian aid.
In 2024, the DRC’s malnutrition crisis remained among the most severe, with hunger affecting over 44 percent of its population.
Common threads: DRC and Pakistan
While geographically and culturally distinct, the DRC and Pakistan share several common factors contributing to their food insecurity:
Conflict and instability: Armed conflicts disrupt agricultural production, displace populations, and hinder humanitarian efforts.
Economic fragility: Both countries struggle with weak economic frameworks, making it difficult to address systemic issues.
Climate vulnerability: Climate change disproportionately affects low-income countries, worsening food shortages and poverty.
Save the Children’s report serves as a wake-up call to the international community.
By shining a light on the scale of the hunger crisis, the organization underscores the urgency of collective action.
Save the Children and similar NGOs play a vital role in providing emergency relief, advocating for policy changes, and implementing community-based programs to combat malnutrition.
The consequences of inaction are dire. Hunger not only leads to preventable deaths but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality.
Malnourished children are less likely to perform well in school, reducing their future earning potential and limiting their ability to break free from poverty.
At a macro level, food insecurity undermines economic growth and social stability, creating conditions for further conflict and displacement.
The statistics shared by Save the Children are a sobering reminder of the work that remains to be done.
The birth of 18.2 million children into hunger in a single year is not just a number; it represents lives at risk, potential unrealised, and futures imperilled.
Pakistan’s 1.4 million hungry newborns are a microcosm of a global crisis that demands urgent and sustained attention.
Pakistan’s leading English daily, The Dawn, in its recent editorial, mentioned that to tackle the crisis, the country needed “to strengthen its early warning systems for food insecurity, enhance the coverage of nutrition-specific interventions through lady health workers, and improve coordination between federal and provincial food security initiatives.”
“The fact that more babies are being born into hunger today than in previous years represents not just a humanitarian crisis but a national emergency that threatens Pakistan’s future,” the editorial added.