People facing acute food insecurity reach 345 million worldwide - WFP

Internally displaced people collect food aid distributed by a charity in Taiz, Yemen April 8, 2022. Picture taken April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub/File Photo

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide has more than doubled to 345 million since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and climate change, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday.

Before the coronavirus crisis, 135 million suffered from acute hunger worldwide, said Corinne Fleischer, the WFP's regional director, told Reuters. The numbers have climbed since and are expected to soar further because of climate change and conflict.