UN agencies announce a rise in global hunger levels

UN agencies have announced a rise in global hunger levels for the first time in more than a decade.

The situation has affected about 11 percent of the world’s population, as conflict, climate change and economic woes reach uncontrollable levels.

Last year, 815 million people were hungry – 38 million more than in 2015.

The number of those living in hunger stricken regions began rising in 2014, but this is the first time in more than a decade that the proportion of the global population affected by food crisis has risen.

About 489 million affected by hunger are living in the conflict-ridden countries.

Famine struck parts of South Sudan earlier this year, and there is a high risk that the situation might be worse – and spread to other countries affected by conflict like northeast Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen.