Mogadishu (SD) – People in the Arab world do not have enough food, the United Nations says, highlighting that 69 million people were malnourished last year.

A report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that between 2019 and 2020 the number of malnourished people in the Arab world increased from 4.8 million to 69 million, almost 16 percent of the population.

“The increase in the levels of undernourishment has occurred across all income levels, in conflict-affected as well as non-conflict countries,” FAO said.

The report added “In addition, nearly 141 million people did not have access to adequate food in 2020, an increase of more than 10 million people since 2019.” FAO indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic “brought another major shock”, with the number of undernourished people in the region increasing by 4.8 million compared with 2019.

Somalia and Yemen, which have been embroiled in violent conflicts, remain the worst-hit countries last year, with nearly 60% of Somalis facing hunger and more than 45% of Yemenis malnourished.

Somalia is currently experiencing a severe drought in some areas that has affected both people and livestock.