Santiago.-The bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco de Macorís, Monsignor Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera, assured this Thursday that in the Dominican Republic “no one dies of hunger,” while assessing the recent recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which places the country among the nations that have reached the Zero Hunger goal.
The prelate specified that the FAO report does not mean that hunger has disappeared completely, but rather that the level of undernourishment remains below the established international threshold, close to 2.5% of the population.
“It is an expression used to indicate that the country has significantly reduced hunger. There are still people who face that situation, but in the Dominican Republic, no one dies of hunger,” he maintained.
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Baldera attributed this result to the strength of the Dominican agricultural sector, noting that crops of various items are produced throughout the year, which guarantees a wide availability of food.
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Likewise, he highlighted that the culture of solidarity of the Dominican people has also been decisive in reducing hunger, ensuring that it is common for neighbors and families to share food with those who are in need.
When comparing the national reality with other countries, he mentioned that in nations affected by wars or deep economic crises, such as Haiti and several African states, serious problems of malnutrition and food shortages persist.
Monsignor Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera offered his statements after presiding this Thursday over the Eucharist of the 2026 Santiago Apóstol el Mayor Patron Saint Festivities, a religious celebration that takes place from July 16 to 25 in the city of Santiago.
