A new report by the African Union and three UN bodies has disclosed that nearly 282 million people in Africa, constituting about 20% of the continent's population, are grappling with undernourishment.

Shockingly, this figure represents an increase of 57 million people since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a concerning deterioration in Africa's food crisis.

“The majority of Africa’s population – about 78%, or more than one billion people – remain unable to afford a healthy diet, compared with 42 percent at the global level, and the number is rising,” the agencies added.

The report attributes the pervasive unaffordability of nutritious food to the rising costs of food in recent years, particularly in Western and Eastern Africa.

This situation has impacted “not only the poor but also a large proportion of people defined as non-poor” unable to maintain a healthy diet.

Additionally, according to the agencies, malnutrition causes stunting in about 30% of children under five on the continent.