The number of people facing food shortage and undernourishment across the globe has increased to 821 million in 2017, according to a report released by United Nations organisations on Tuesday. The uptick in global undernourishment was particularly focused in South America and Africa, said the report titled "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World", as reported in Efe news.

"For the third year in a row, there has been a rise in world hunger. The absolute number of undernourished people, i.e. those facing chronic food deprivation, has increased to nearly 821 million in 2017, from around 804 million in 2016," the report warned.