Brazil leaves the hunger map, but indicators are negative in the North Region The North Region has the most alarming reality in the country in terms of access to food: only 37.7% of homes have food security. The data contrasts with the national scenario in the month in which Brazil officially completes one year off the Hunger Map. While the country advances, Amapá is moving in the opposite direction and leads the negative rates in the Amazon, registering 9.3% of its households in a situation of severe food insecurity. Which represents around 81 thousand people without having anything to eat daily. ? Click here to follow the g1 AP channel on WhatsApp In Macapá, the refrigerator of diarist Kátia Santos only has water in the freezer and little food in the drawer. The little she has at home is not enough for lunch for her four young children. "Today we have a piece of chicken left over from yesterday. That's what will be made for lunch. I always say, I'm not eating lunch, but my children are eating it, that's great for me", says the diarist. Day laborer Kátia Santos lives in a situation of food insecurity in Macapá. João Pantoja/Rede Amazônica The regional scenario goes against the national trend. Data from the National Continuous Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua), released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The indicators show that, although hunger has decreased in the country, 18.9 million Brazilian families still face some degree of food insecurity. In the North, however, the proportion of households that live with the guarantee of food on the table has been falling. Impact of climate and local economy For IBGE technician Joel Lima, the impoverishment of the dish in the Amazon is linked to climatic and economic factors. "It does not seem to us to be a coincidence that the states that have the highest percentage of households, of residents experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity, are from the northern region. It has something to do with both the structural issues of food production that are happening now, recently, the issue of droughts or extreme floods, climate change, and also because of this issue of the economy of these regions being very dependent on the State, state power", he said. IBGE technician Joel Lima, from Amapá. João Pantoja/Rede Amazônica READ MORE: The value of a basic food basket in Macapá exceeds R$700 and accumulates an increase in June Union recognizes emergency situation in the 16 municipalities of AP due to outbreak of respiratory viruses Number of traffic deaths doubles in Amapá in the first five months of 2026, says police When the focus closes on Amapá, the state leads negatively with the most critical level of hunger in the region. The index increased compared to the previous year and today represents 22 thousand homes in Amapá. Economist and territorial development researcher Lúcia Tereza Ribeiro do Rosário explains that Amapá lives the paradox of having natural abundance, but not producing its own sustenance. "On the other hand, we have a low food production capacity. And this makes products more expensive. Why does this happen? Because we have to bring food from outside. And this makes our food more expensive. It makes it more complicated for people to be able to eat. People in vulnerable situations, for example, low-income people. When there is a rise in food prices, this means that she has a low capacity to acquire this food", says the economist. R$1,010 to support 5 people To survive, Kátia does sporadic cleaning when she can find someone to look after her children. However, the household's fixed income depends entirely on social benefits from the government, which amount to R$1,010 per month to support five people. "But I say it this way, I never lose hope. I want to be able to work, go back to work to give my children something to eat and drink. I say, I will fight and I will go to the end to get better things for my children, especially in terms of food", reports the day laborer. Kátia lives on just over a thousand reais paid for by government benefits. João Pantoja/Rede Amazônica To reverse food insecurity in Amapá and other states in the North, researcher Lúcia Rosário points out three fronts of necessary actions for public authorities: Employment and income: Expand local employment generation policies to reduce exclusive dependence on aid; Integration of benefits: Improve regional social protection policies, more efficiently integrating the actions of city halls and the state with the federal government;