The main cause of hunger is the lack of food in the world.

The answer is false. There are multiple causes of hunger. The world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet. The problem is access and availability, both of which are disrupted by things like extreme weather, food waste, and – worst of all – conflict, contributing to growing food insecurity in places affected.

In 2023, an estimated 28.9 percent of the global population – 2.33 billion people – were moderately or severely food insecure, meaning they did not have regular access to adequate food. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations states that food security exists “when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. Based on this definition, here are the four main dimensions of food security:

(i) Availability: Having a quantity and quality of safe and nutritious food supplied through domestic production or imports, sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals.
(ii) Access: Having personal or household financial means for all to acquire safe and nutritious food for an adequate diet.
(iii) Utilisation: Whether households are improving nutrition and food safety to meet the dietary needs of every member in the family.
(iv) Stability: Building confidence that all the above elements can be delivered over time for food security at all times.

In recent years, increasingly intense extreme weather and conflicts have been disrupting the systems for food supply and access, making it difficult for households to maintain long-term food security. World Vision focuses on climate actions that aim to enhance the capacity of affected households through training and related programmes, thereby mitigating the impacts caused by climate change.

The main cause of malnutrition in children is a lack of enough food.

The answer is false! There are many causes of malnutrition in children, mostly due to improper diet and improper care. Even though the accessibility and supply of food are ensured, children might still not be able to obtain adequate nutrition. The key lies in the diet and care, that is, whether the food and care provided by the family can allow children to absorb and utilise the micronutrients in the food, contributing to their healthy growth.

In terms of diet, many factors affect the nutritional patterns of children, including culture, language, cooking methods, knowledge, consumption patterns, food preferences, beliefs, and values related to food sources and production. In terms of care, access to various health services and environmental hygiene, as well as the handling of food, the distribution of food within the family, and the care for children and girls, can all lead to poor nutrition in children. Ultimately, poverty is the underlying cause, deeply impacting whether families can provide adequate nutrition and care for their children.

Since the estimated data was first released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2017, the global average cost of a healthy diet has continued to rise, reaching 3.96 purchasing power parity US dollars (about 30 Hong Kong dollars) – a measure that compares purchasing power parity across economies – in 2022. It is estimated that some 35.4 percent of the global population (2.83 billion people) were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. A healthy diet means having a diverse variety of food that gives enough nutrients and bioactive compound to lead healthy and active lives. Without a healthy diet, forms of malnutrition such as stunted growth, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies would occur.

Malnutrition the is leading cause of death among children under 5.

The answer is true! Nearly half of deaths among children under 5 are linked to undernutrition. Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The conditions include:

1. Undernutrition, which includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age);
2. Micronutrient-related malnutrition, which includes micronutrient deficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals) or micronutrient excess; and
3. Overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Africa has the highest levels of hunger.

The answer is false! Asia is home to most of those facing hunger in the world (385 million), while Africa is second (298 million). Therefore, people are suffering from severe hunger not only in Africa, but also in the rest of the world.

Although Asia is home to most hungry people, of all the world's continents, Africa has the largest proportion of hungry people (20.4%), against 8.41% in Asia. It is projected that 582 million people will be chronically undernourished at the end of the decade and that more than half of them will be in Africa.

According to the latest UN news released, 36.2 million children under 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition, in which 9.8 million children are severely malnourished. In 2025, acute food insecurity is expected to worsen in more than 22 countries and territories, driven by an alarming combination of conflict, weather extremes and economic crises. At the same time, this year is a significant year for the issue of nutrition, as it marks the final year of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025). The aim of this initiative is to create a world in which all countries, organisations, and nutrition workers coordinate actions and strengthen collaboration to ensure that everyone at any time, at any stage of life, can access affordable, diverse, safe, and healthy diets. This year in March, representatives from various countries will meet in Paris for the "Nutrition for Growth Summit" to drive larger-scale actions to eliminate malnutrition and continue efforts towards achieving the global Sustainable Development Goal (2) of "Zero Hunger" by 2030. Before the summit, a "Children's Nutrition Dialogue" was specially held in several African and Asian countries to gather children's perspectives on nutrition.

Take the Central African Republic as an example, children and adolescents aged 12 to 18 are encouraged to interact through Children’s Nutrition Dialogue, share ideas and reflect to improve nutrition in their community. This engaging dialogue has highlighted the importance of parental involvement and the need for well-structured school feeding programmes. World Vision piloted the programme in some regions in the Central African Republic, and organised workshops facilitating conversations for children to share their perspectives, hoping to make their voice heard, become catalysts for change, influencing policy and community action to eradicate malnutrition and hunger. Arielle, who joined the dialogue, highlighted, "We urge parents and stakeholders to take responsibility for improving and promoting school feeding programmes. Ensuring that all children have access to balanced and healthy meals at school is integral to fighting malnutrition."

As per a report, in low-income countries, 18% of schoolchildren receive free or subsidised meals, compared to 48% in upper/middle-income countries. School meals are a cost-efficient investment: for every US$1 invested in school meals, a return of up to US$9 can be attributed to improvements in education, nutrition, health, social protection, and local economic and agricultural growth.

As a key partner in the School Meals Coalition, jointly launched by the United Nations, government and non-governmental organisation, as well as organisations in the private sector, World Vision is making an effort to ensure every child receives a nutritious school meal by 2030. When children suffer from hunger, it is easy for them to become distracted and unable to focus, which affects their learning and their ability to equip themselves for work. School meals are an important safety net that helps ensure every child has access to education, hygienic and nutritious food, especially for children in vulnerable environments. These meals also help families keep their children in school, preventing them from becoming child labourers, and reducing the likelihood of girls being forced into early marriages, early pregnancies, and sexual violence. In summary, school feeding programmes undoubtedly help address hunger and prevent child malnutrition, contributing to the healthy development of children and achieving the global goal of zero hunger.

Thank you for reading this article, and sparing some time to listen to the voice of the hungry people. We truly believe that the more people are willing to listen, the more likely they are able to help hungry children!

A Second Chance at Education: How School Feeding Changed Life

At just 11 years old, Aschila’s life was turned upside down when conflict erupted in her village in northwestern Ethiopia. Forced to flee with her family, she left her home, her friends, and her education behind. Aschila and her family sought safety in a new village, but with little means to support themselves, sending Aschila to school seemed impossible. Instead of learning in a classroom, she spent her days tending cattle to help her family earn a meager income.

Despite losing hope of continuing her education, Aschila’s life took a positive turn when World Vision introduced a School Feeding Programme. Aschila’s parents embraced it with relief, as it eased their burden of providing food and educational materials. Her father shared, “It was difficult to feed my child and purchase educational materials because we lost everything as a displaced family, but this project helped very much, not just me, but other community members as well, to send our children to school."

For Aschila and thousands of children like her, the School Feeding Programme is not just providing meals — it serves as a lifeline. Beyond her individual story, the programme is a critical advocacy tool in World Vision's global efforts to address child hunger and malnutrition.

"The School Feeding Programme was a game-changer for me," Aschila says. "It provided me with a nutritious meal every day, which gave me the energy and focus I needed to succeed in my studies." The homegrown school feeding initiative, which uses locally sourced ingredients to provide meals, ensures that students like her receive bread, tea, and rice every school day. It’s not just food, though. Aschila is now receiving the education she once thought was beyond her reach.

Since the project began, over 34,000 children, including 16,428 girls, have benefited from the School Feeding Programme, which has restored not only their education but also their sense of hope and normality.