The country’s hunger score is reducing, but many children still go without sufficient food to eat. KT/Mai Vireak
The number of Cambodians going hungry fell between 2008 and this year, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute 2017 Global Hunger Index.
Its report, published on Thursday, says Cambodia’s hunger score fell from 27.1 in 2008 to 22.2 in 2017.
The figure is compiled from statistics on undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting and child mortality.
It said also that Cambodia ranked 75th of 119 countries on the global hunger index with “serious” hunger conditions, on a par with Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia.
The report said that despite a 27 percent decrease in global hunger since 2000, the trend may be slowing, and in some places even reversing.
Overall, 52 of 119 countries ranked have serious, alarming or extremely alarming hunger conditions.
The report says countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Kenya, Cameroon, Togo and Nepal have experienced relatively rapid improvements and were nearing the moderate category.
Theng Savoeun, president of the Coalition of Cambodia Farmers, told Khmer Times that hungry people in Cambodia worked hard and struggled to find money to feed themselves.
“They work very hard in agricultural fields to fight against their hunger, but they also face debts from banks that threaten their food security. This concerns us,” he said.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the government had a policy for residents to get enough food and access to food security.
“Cambodia does not have any obstacle to food security,” he said. “Some residents in rural areas can get vitamins from fish and rice.”