Despite the government’s efforts to end poverty in the Philippines, the International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) said hunger in the country was still deemed “serious,” according to the 2014 Global Hunger Index (GHI).
Ifpri data showed that the country ranked 29th out of 76 countries with GHI scores of above 5. The Philippines and Lesotho were ranked 29th, and had the same GHI score of 13.1.
In 2013 the country’s ranking was 28th out of 78 countries, with a score of 13.2. This is still within the range of the 10 to 19.9 score, which indicates a serious level of hunger.
“We are excited to see that there are improvements in India, and also globally,” Ifpri Director General Shenggen Fan said. “The GHI shows that hunger has been decreasing since 1990, but there is much more to be done to address hunger—including hidden hunger—to ensure food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable.”
Data also showed that in the Philippines, hunger has decreased by around 25 percent to 49.9 percent since 1990.
The Ifpri said hunger in a number of developing countries has fallen by 39 percent, and 26 countries have reduced their scores by 50 percent or more.
Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chad, Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Thailand and Vietnam have seen the greatest improvements in their scores between the 1990 GHI and the 2014 GHI. However, levels of hunger are still “alarming” in 14 countries, and “extremely alarming” in two—Burundi and Eritrea.
The Ifpri said one particular concern is hidden hunger, which is the focus of the report. The institute said hidden hunger is difficult to detect, but could be devastating for individuals and the countries they live in.
The report stated that hidden hunger weakens the immune system, stunts physical and intellectual growth, and can lead to death.
It also wreaks economic havoc, as well, locking countries into cycles of poor nutrition, lost productivity, poverty and reduced economic growth.
“What is needed now is more practical action on the ground, such as our RAIN project in Zambia, [which is ] included in this year’s GHI report, and more political action at the international level to end all forms of malnutrition,” Concern Worldwide CEO Dominic MacSorley said.
The 2014 GHI examines levels of hunger in 120 developing countries and countries in transition, and scores them based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished, the proportion of children under 5 who are underweight, and the mortality rate of children under 5.