Kathmandu, December 5

A study has shown that strategic plans with climate change resilience need to be implemented to save humans from starvation.

The Global Hunger Index 2019 jointly released by the WeltHungerHilfe and Concern Worldwide pointed out that the activities launched so far to cope up the challenges on food security posed by climate change were inadequate. It pointed out the need to augment investment on the communities facing risks to reduce disasters, ensure good and nutrition security and food sovereignty.

The report further recommended the formulation of strategy based on local needs in cooperation with affected communities in order to lift them out of hunger.

Similarly, high income countries need to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the report added.

“South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara are the regions with the highest 2019 GHI scores, at 29.3 and 28.4 respectively, indicating serious levels of hunger,” the  report mentioned.

Out of total 117 countries included in the study for the report, Nepal is ranked 73rd. People in Nepal are still facing severe hunger, it stated.

The report has classified hunger into- moderate, serious, alarming, or extremely alarming.

The report however mentioned that Nepal’s remarkable reduction in child stunting from 56.6 per cent in 2001 to 40.1 percent in 2011 is associated with, and likely attributable to, increased household assets, increased maternal education, improved sanitation, and implementation and use of health and nutrition programmes, including antenatal and neonatal care.