German President Urges Global Hunger Eradication: A Pressing Call to Action

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for renewed efforts to achieve the UN's decade-old goal of ending world hunger by 2030. Speaking at a Berlin event for the German aid organization "Welthungerhilfe," Steinmeier urged the international community not to abandon this target despite recent setbacks. His appeal comes as new UN data shows 673 million people faced hunger worldwide last year—about 8% of the global population.

The timing of Steinmeier's call reflects growing concern that the world is falling behind on this critical development goal. The UN first announced its zero hunger target in 2015 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, giving countries 15 years to eliminate hunger completely.

But the numbers tell a troubling story. The latest UN report from July shows hunger levels remain stubbornly high, affecting roughly one in every 12 people globally. This represents hundreds of millions of individuals who lack reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food.

Steinmeier acknowledged the challenges but insisted the goal remains achievable. "We must not fail on our path toward this objective, despite all the setbacks that unfortunately exist," he said during the Berlin gathering.

The German president's remarks highlight how geopolitical events, economic disruptions, and climate change have complicated efforts to reduce global hunger. Wars, supply chain problems, and extreme weather have all contributed to food insecurity in recent years.

For international development organizations and donor countries, these statistics underscore the scale of work still needed. With just five years left until the 2030 deadline, achieving zero hunger will require significant increases in funding, policy coordination, and agricultural innovation across dozens of countries.