Hunger, obesity levels both high
Namibia last year had 700 000 food-insecure people, an FAO report states.
While Namibia remains one of the most food-insecure countries on the continent it is also one of the nations with the highest obesity level in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation's (FAO) regional overview for the year, the number of food-insecure people in Africa has increased from 220 million to 224 million.
The FAO contributes this to changing weather patterns that led to poor harvests, a loss of livestock, conflict and recurrent droughts.
“The number of undernourished people rose from 200 to 224 million, accounting for 25% of the 815 million undernourished people in the world in 2016,” said Bukar Tijani, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa.
East Africa accounts for 39% of the 224 million undernourished people while West and Central Africa accounted for 20% and 18%, respectively, and Southern Africa accounted for less than 2%.
According to the FAO report, the prevalence of undernourishment in Namibia last year stood at 28.6% with 700 000 food-insecure people. In 2011 these figures stood at 37.6% and 800 000 food-insecure people.
In comparison with other countries in Southern Africa, Botswana's prevalence of undernourishment is 26% with 600 000 food-insecure people and South Africa has 2.5 million food-insecure people and a 4.6% undernourishment rate.
“The trend in Southern Africa is heavily weighted by South Africa.
“The rate of undernourishment is indeed much higher in all other Southern African countries and in general, despite some fluctuations over time, has remained largely unchanged since 2000,” the report says.
It adds that Botswana, which has seen the prevalence of undernourishment fall over time, is the exception.
The countries in the region have been badly affected by drought, with 2015/16 having been the driest agricultural season in 35 years in the region. According to the report Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland experienced massive crop and livestock losses.
Tijani explained that adverse climatic conditions and conflict, often occurring concurrently, are key factors driving the recent increase in food insecurity in the region.
Despite a rising prevalence of undernourishment, rates of stunting continue to decline while levels of overweight and obesity continue to grow, notably in Southern Africa in terms of the latter.
According to the report, Namibia has some of the highest levels of adult obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa with a prevalence of about 15%. Just four other countries have higher prevalence levels.
Botswana has a prevalence of adult obesity just higher than 15%, Mauritius 20%, Seychelles 22% and South Africa 25%.
Globally, progress in fighting hunger has been steady with the prevalence of undernourishment falling from 14.7% to 10.6% between 2000 and 2015, while the number of undernourished declined from 900 million to 777 million over the same time period.
However, the decline has slowed and the most recent data show that between 2015 and 2016 the prevalence of undernourished may have risen slightly from 10.6% to 11.0% and the number of undernourished rose from 777 million to 815 million.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation's (FAO) regional overview for the year, the number of food-insecure people in Africa has increased from 220 million to 224 million.
The FAO contributes this to changing weather patterns that led to poor harvests, a loss of livestock, conflict and recurrent droughts.
“The number of undernourished people rose from 200 to 224 million, accounting for 25% of the 815 million undernourished people in the world in 2016,” said Bukar Tijani, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa.
East Africa accounts for 39% of the 224 million undernourished people while West and Central Africa accounted for 20% and 18%, respectively, and Southern Africa accounted for less than 2%.
According to the FAO report, the prevalence of undernourishment in Namibia last year stood at 28.6% with 700 000 food-insecure people. In 2011 these figures stood at 37.6% and 800 000 food-insecure people.
In comparison with other countries in Southern Africa, Botswana's prevalence of undernourishment is 26% with 600 000 food-insecure people and South Africa has 2.5 million food-insecure people and a 4.6% undernourishment rate.
“The trend in Southern Africa is heavily weighted by South Africa.
“The rate of undernourishment is indeed much higher in all other Southern African countries and in general, despite some fluctuations over time, has remained largely unchanged since 2000,” the report says.
It adds that Botswana, which has seen the prevalence of undernourishment fall over time, is the exception.
The countries in the region have been badly affected by drought, with 2015/16 having been the driest agricultural season in 35 years in the region. According to the report Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland experienced massive crop and livestock losses.
Tijani explained that adverse climatic conditions and conflict, often occurring concurrently, are key factors driving the recent increase in food insecurity in the region.
Despite a rising prevalence of undernourishment, rates of stunting continue to decline while levels of overweight and obesity continue to grow, notably in Southern Africa in terms of the latter.
According to the report, Namibia has some of the highest levels of adult obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa with a prevalence of about 15%. Just four other countries have higher prevalence levels.
Botswana has a prevalence of adult obesity just higher than 15%, Mauritius 20%, Seychelles 22% and South Africa 25%.
Globally, progress in fighting hunger has been steady with the prevalence of undernourishment falling from 14.7% to 10.6% between 2000 and 2015, while the number of undernourished declined from 900 million to 777 million over the same time period.
However, the decline has slowed and the most recent data show that between 2015 and 2016 the prevalence of undernourished may have risen slightly from 10.6% to 11.0% and the number of undernourished rose from 777 million to 815 million.
ELLANIE SMIT
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