"Brasil should have a reduction of 20 million hungry people," estimates minister
At a press conference about the Task Force for a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, Minister Wellington Dias estimated a reduction in the number of hungry people in the country.
At a press conference held on Thursday (1), the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, estimated that Brasil should confirm, in a report that will be published with data of the year 2023, a reduction of 20 million people who suffer from hunger in the country.
The minister used data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to show that in 2022 Brasil will have more than 33 million people in a situation of severe food insecurity. “The country had been facing constant growth in this indicator, but in 2023 there was a change in trend. We estimate that last year more than 20 million people were protected from hunger and poverty. This is a considerable advance that deserves to be celebrated," highlighted the Minister.
He also pointed out that it's not just a question of reducing hunger, but also of reducing poverty in general. According to him, data from the Single Registry (Cadastro Único) reveals an increase in the number of people seeking employment and signing work contracts, which contributes to an improvement in the population's life conditions.
"The numbers are encouraging. We see an increase in the number of people registered in social programs, as well as growth in formal employment. This indicates that we are on the right path to tackling the challenges of poverty and hunger in our country," observed the minister.
Task Force for a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty
In the conversation with journalists from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in Brasil, Wellington Dias also presented the Brazilian government's initiatives to form a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, within the framework of the G20 presidency.
The minister highlighted that Brasil proposes a three-pillar structure to guide the Alliance's efforts: National, Financial and Knowledge. The National Pillar aims to promote effective public policies in participating countries, while the Financial Pillar seeks to identify sources of financing to support these efforts. Finally, the Knowledge Pillar seeks to promote cooperation and the sharing of experiences to inform the most effective policies and practices.
This integrated approach not only intends to accelerate the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to poverty eradication and zero hunger, but also recognizes the necessity of adapting to the specific realities and necessities of each participating country.
In addition, the Global Alliance is conceived as a platform for establishing national commitments, inviting not only G20 members, but also other countries and international organizations committed to this vital cause. With the participation of important organizations such as the UN, the FAO and the World Bank, the Alliance wants to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts.
According to Minister Wellington Dias, by taking the leadership of this important global cooperation forum, Brasil is reaffirming its commitment to tackling humanity's most urgent challenges. "The Global Alliance will be a test of humanity for the world. I say that the problem of hunger is not just a problem for the poorest, it is also a problem for the richest," he concluded.