Lys Arango on Global Hunger: Malnutrition Harms Brains, Bodies & Futures

Photo: Sharjah Government Media Bureau

Spanish documentary photographer and writer Lys Arango delivered a powerful talk at the 9th International Photography Festival (Xposure 2025). Her session, titled “Framing Hunger,” shed light on the serious issue of food insecurity and how it is shaped by war, migration, and economic hardship.

Arango, known for her deep passion for environmental and social storytelling, began by asking, “What does hunger feel like?” She explained that while people may feel hungry a few times a day, the hunger she speaks of is much more severe. “This hunger causes disease and death. It has long-term, sometimes permanent effects,” she said.

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Since 2016, Arango has traveled to different parts of the world, documenting food crises and humanitarian struggles. One of her most impactful projects, ‘Until the Corn Grows Back,’ was a three-year effort in Guatemala. Through this work, she revealed the harsh reality of climate change in the Dry Corridor, where unpredictable weather and droughts have left families struggling to survive. “People there lose at least half of their harvest every year,” she explained, highlighting how closely hunger is linked to environmental challenges.

However, climate change is not the only cause of food insecurity. Arango also exposed how war worsens hunger. Her research in Colombia and Lebanon showed that hunger is sometimes used as a weapon. “Armed groups control where people can fish or farm. They destroy entire livelihoods, leaving people with nothing. It’s a never-ending cycle of suffering,” she said.

Arango’s work also examines how hunger is connected to migration, inequality, and social issues. She has traveled through conflict zones and regions hit by natural disasters, but she has also documented hunger in unexpected places—including wealthy countries. Her project in France revealed the hidden struggles of people living in poverty. “Jean Pierre is 72 years old. He spent his whole life cleaning streets in Paris, but now he cannot afford food from the supermarket,” she shared, showing his photograph. This example challenges the idea that hunger exists only in poor countries.

As a photographer, Arango wants to change the way hunger is represented in the media. “We need to move away from shocking images and stereotypes,” she said. “Instead, we should focus on the complexity of the issue and the resilience of those affected.”

Arango has received many major awards for her work, including National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year award in 2023 and the National Geographic Award at the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2021. She was also awarded a National Geographic Explorers grant in 2024.

Despite the emotional difficulty of documenting hunger, Arango remains committed to her mission. “It is very hard to show hunger through photography, but we must never stop trying. I will keep searching for new ways to tell these stories,” she concluded.

Her talk at Xposure 2025 left the audience with a deeper understanding of hunger’s many causes and effects. Through her powerful images and words, Arango continues to challenge the world’s view of food insecurity and inspire action to address it.

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