Despite encouraging trends, the food security and nutrition status of the population remains dire for many countries in the region; 55 million people are still affected by hunger. Reversing this will require governments to rethink their agricultural, health and trade policy. The past few decades have seen dramatic improvements in the region with respect to access to food, stunting rates, and premature death and disability caused by communicable, maternal, neonatal or nutritional diseases. However, the gains in the fight against hunger and malnutrition have been reversed in the wake of conflicts and violence that have spread in many parts of the region over the past decade. The report concludes that ending hunger and addressing the root causes of malnutrition will require bold action on several fronts, including ending conflicts and sustaining peace, and transforming food systems through agricultural, health, nutrition, trade, food and environmental policies that are gender- and climate-sensitive.
