Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – As many as 690 million people in the world are suffering from starvation, while 3 billion cannot afford healthy food.

The data was disclosed by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi at a joint session between Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Development of the G20 on food security at the G20 ministerial meeting in Matera, Italy on Tuesday (June 29).

At the event, the Indonesian Foreign Minister was present with the Minister of the National Planning and Development Agency.

"The discussion on food security is very timely, considering that this topic provides momentum for the upcoming U.N. Food System Summit in September 2021 in New York," Minister Retno said in a written statement received here, Wednesday (June 30).

She added that the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 2 regarding hunger alleviation had been delayed, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If this is not addressed immediately it would create health and life expectancy problems. This pandemic has created more difficult situations to build food security," said Retno.

Furthermore, she delivered a number of statements made by the Indonesian Minister of the National Planning and Development Agency.

First, the poor and vulnerable groups must still be the focus of the G20.

"The minister revealed Indonesia's experience, which, even in the midst of the pandemic, was able to reduce food insecurity from 8.6 percent in 2017 to 5.15 percent in 2020," the minister noted, adding that this could be achieved through social assistance for vulnerable groups.

"The second point that was conveyed by the Minister of the National Planning and Development Agency was the need for an exponential and significant efforts to address the root causes of food vulnerability, namely poverty, production capacity, infrastructure and logistics," Retno said.

A comprehensive approach through stronger international cooperation is needed in addressing these issues.

"The third point that was conveyed by the Minister of the National Planning and Development Agency was the importance of making the G20 a catalyst for progress," she continued.

Therefore, the Matera Declaration generated from the G20 ministerial meeting should be applied effectively through real partnerships, actions, and investments.

"With this effort, the hunger affected to millions of people in the world can be overcome," said Minister Retno.

Reporting by Indonesia Window