El hambre en el Perú alcanza su peor nivel de los últimos 15 años: ¿Peligra el objetivo de Hambre Cero para el 2030? – El Comercio Perú

Hunger levels in Peru have reached their most severe point in 15 years, creating a significant obstacle to the nation’s ability to achieve the United Nations’ “Zero Hunger” target by 2030. According to reporting from El Comercio, the current trajectory of food insecurity suggests that the objective of eliminating hunger and all forms of malnutrition is now in jeopardy.

The decline in food security is reflected in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which monitors undernourishment and child malnutrition. The index indicates a regression in progress, returning the country to levels of food instability not seen since the early 2010s. This shift represents a reversal of previous gains made in reducing chronic malnutrition and hunger across various demographics in the country.

Alliance2015, a network of non-governmental organizations, has highlighted the systemic failures contributing to this crisis. The organization points to a lack of coordinated state intervention and the failure to protect the most vulnerable populations from economic shocks as primary drivers of the increase in hunger.

The current crisis is the result of a convergence of political instability, economic volatility, and environmental disasters. Peru has experienced a period of intense political turnover and administrative instability, which has hindered the implementation of long-term social programs and consistent food security policies.

Economic factors have further exacerbated the situation. High inflation rates, particularly affecting basic food staples, have reduced the purchasing power of low-income households. As the cost of essential nutrients increases, many families have been forced to reduce the quality and quantity of their daily caloric intake, leading to an increase in acute food insecurity.

Climate-related events have also played a critical role in destabilizing the food supply. The recurring effects of El Niño, characterized by extreme rainfall in the north and droughts in the Andean highlands, have devastated local agriculture. These weather patterns destroy crops and kill livestock, which are the primary sources of both food and income for rural communities.

The impact is most pronounced in rural and indigenous regions, where access to government social safety nets is limited. In these areas, the combination of crop failure and rising market prices has pushed thousands of people into severe food insecurity, increasing the risk of famine-like conditions in isolated pockets of the country.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2, known as Zero Hunger, aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. For Peru to meet this goal, the current trend would need to be not only halted but reversed through aggressive policy intervention.

Alliance2015 argues that the state must prioritize a multisectoral approach to address the root causes of hunger. This includes strengthening the resilience of small-scale farmers against climate change and ensuring that social programs, such as food vouchers and school feeding initiatives, are funded and distributed without political interference.

The Global Hunger Index measures three key indicators: the prevalence of undernourishment, the prevalence of child stunting, and the prevalence of child wasting. The deterioration in Peru’s score suggests a rise in these indicators, which has long-term consequences for public health and economic productivity, particularly regarding the cognitive development of children.

Current data suggests that the gap between urban and rural food security is widening. While urban centers face challenges related to food inflation, rural populations face the dual threat of production loss and lack of market access. This disparity complicates the national strategy to achieve a uniform reduction in hunger across all departments.

As of May 8, 2026, the focus of international observers and local advocates is on whether the Peruvian government will implement the necessary emergency measures to prevent further degradation of food security. The failure to act is viewed by analysts as a risk that could permanently sideline the 2030 Zero Hunger objective for the country.