Serious level of hunger persists in Bangladesh: GHI

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Bangladesh is among the 40 countries of the world which are considered to have ‘serious’ hunger levels, according to the 2020 Global Hunger Index (GHI).

Bangladesh has ranked 75th among 107 countries in the 2020 GHI. With a score of 20.4, Bangladesh has a level of hunger that is “serious”.

Launched on Friday, the 2020 GHI has also identified 11 countries with “alarming” levels of hunger.

The GHI is an annual global report jointly published by Concern Worldwide and its partner Welthungerhilfe.

This year’s GHI launch takes place against the backdrop of a global pandemic, which threatens 13 years of progress in the fight against hunger.

The Global Hunger Index report categorizes countries into moderate, serious, or alarming hunger levels.

In the virtual launch marking World Food Day, the keynote address was delivered by Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO Health Emergencies Program.

This was followed by a discussion by a panel of global experts, including Hasina Rahman, assistant country director of Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh; Dr Robyn Alders, senior consulting fellow, Chatham House Centre for Universal Health; and Dr Sinead Walsh, deputy director general, Irish Aid.

Hasina Rahman said: “In Bangladesh, we are now looking at a possible doubling of the country’s poverty rate this year for the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Furthermore, Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to a worsening of food and nutrition insecurity caused by the overlapping health, economic, and environmental crises of 2020.