The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has announced that over 842 million people in the world are chronically hungry but many many of them die or suffer the ill effects of inadequate nutrition. FAO and the World Health Organisation estimates that over 162 million children under the age of five are stunted while at the same time over 500 million people are obese due to unhealthy diets.

On the World Food Day in October 2013, Pope Francis called for solidarity and for an end to indifference to the plight of the hungry peole in the world.

FAO Chief Jose Graziano da Silva says that the Second International Conference on Nutrition to be hosted by the UN food agency and the World Health Organisation will take place in Rome in November 2014.

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