UN: Pace of hunger reduction in region improves

SANTIAGO—The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation says some 47 million people suffer from hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean. That is 3 million less than in the 2008-2010 period. FAO said yesterday that slow economic growth and high levels of inequality are still impeding hunger reduction in the region. But it has made strides in the reduction of poverty and FAO says 16 countries have reached a target to reduce by half the number of people that suffer hunger.

The region produces more food than required for its population and FAO says none of the nations should lack the minimum caloric quantities needed per person. Still many go hungry even as about 23 per cent of adults and seven per cent of children in the pre-school level are overweight.

AP