Manos Unidas holds Mesa del Hambre

Manos Unidas held its second Mesa del Hambre at the Botín Foundation in Madrid to discuss how protecting the right to food can help build lasting peace. Organized to coincide with World Food Day, the meeting brought together specialists in human rights, journalism, cooperation, and humanitarian aid to examine how conflicts destroy food systems and how political decisions can prevent food crises.

The event addressed data from the SOFI 2026 report, which states that 645 million people suffered from hunger in 2025, representing 7.8% of the global population. While hunger levels decreased for the third consecutive year, the report notes that progress remains slow and unequal across different regions. Additionally, 266 million people faced acute food insecurity across 47 countries and territories during 2025.

Fidèle Podga Dikam, a department coordinator, noted that conflicts continue to worsen food crises by displacing populations and destroying livelihoods. The meeting also highlighted findings from the Global Report on Food Crises, which noted that famines occurred in parts of Gaza and Sudan within the same year.