INTRODUCTION: HUNGER IN AFRICAN CITIES
The human right to adequate food and nutrition has to be guaranteed for the residents of African cities, where many live in informal settlements and cannot afford to buy food. Food is expensive and employment opportunities are scarce. Over three quarters of lower-income urban people suffer from food insecurity according to a survey carried out in eleven cities in Southern Africa by the African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN). In Kenya, people living in urban slums have been identified as among the most malnourished groups.
Some residents have only one meal per day, and the chances of eating protein are low because the cost of buying meat, fish or even milk and eggs is prohibitive. Regarding dietary diversity, the AFSUN study also found that 96% of the food intake of the urban poor in Southern Africa was starchy staple foods. Those that were food insecure (the majority) had access to only five of the twelve food groups measured, two of which were sugar and beverages. This causes obesity and poor health, including vulnerability to the so-called non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes.
For more, please read the full article, by clicking on the following link. Please read from page 55.