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Despite the Millenium Development Goal to halve the proportion of underfed people in the world by 2015, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization reports that the actual number of hungry people in the world is actually increasing.

According to BBC News,

Some 820m people in the developing world were hungry in 2001-2003, only 3m fewer than 1990-1992, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.

Although the overall proportion of hungry people in the world has fallen, that is only down to population growth.

FAO head Jacques Diouf said the “sad reality” was that little had been done.

While the number of hungry people has fallen in most parts of the world, sub-Saharan Africa will increasingly bear the burden of the world’s hunger. The FAO now predicts that by 2015, sub-Saharan Africa will be home to 30% of the world’s hungry, compared with 20% in 1990-1992.

On a positive note, however, the FAO report also states that big population increases mean the world is, at least, on track to reach the first Millennium Development Goal on hunger. While one in five people were malnourished in 1990-1992, FAO projections suggest it could fall to 10% by 2015.

How can you help? Check out the Friends of the World Food Program and take action to meet the first Millenium Development Goal!

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