Archive for category: Hunger

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Empty Stomachs to Hopeful Hearts: 8 Facts About Hunger in the US

Hunger in the U.S.
When one thinks of global hunger, the United States does not immediately come to mind as a country suffering from food insecurity. Yet, this does not mean that there are no hungry people in America, or that there are not demographic and geographic pockets of people experiencing hunger. Here are eight facts about hunger in the U.S.

Factors Related to Demographic and Geographic Disparities

  1. Demographics Affected by Hunger: Feeding America reports that the impact of hunger disproportionately affects different demographics. As is common in less developed countries, higher rates of hunger are experienced by children, seniors, the disabled, communities of color and rural communities.
  2. The Relationship Between Poverty and Hunger: Poverty is an underlying cause of hunger in all categories. Low family income, fixed income, lack of affordable housing so that food loses out to rent, under employment and unemployment all contribute to poverty.
  3. Child Hunger: Child hunger can be more prevalent for children of single parents, and for children of black, Latino and Native American families. Feeding America reported 20% of children being unsure as to where they would get their next meal in 2023—nearly 14 million children.
  4. Hunger Among Seniors: Seniors are more likely to live on fixed (and often inadequate) incomes, to have chronic health problems, to lack access to transportation and to be socially isolated. Feeding America reported 7 million older adults as food insecure in 2022, possibly rising to 9 million by 2050.
  5. Hunger Among the Vulnerable: Many active military and veterans, especially veterans who are older, disabled and/or in poor health are challenged to find a steady income post military, while partners of active military members find it difficult to find work because of frequent moves or living on base. Many bases are not near grocery stores. In addition, there are those veterans who have physical and mental issues related to military service. Feeding America reported food insecurity in 2020 for 24% of active-duty service members.
  6. People of Color: Some of the challenges often faced by people of color are cultural barriers and immigration policies and living in “food deserts”—areas without grocery stores or sources of fresh, healthy foods. In 2023, 25% of black people (9 million) and 25% of Latinos (nearly 14 million) were food insecure. In 2024, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that food insecurity was significantly greater among American Indian/Alaska Native households than for all U.S. households, or approximately 30% of households compared to 15%.
  7. Rural Americans: Issues for rural Americans include distance from stores and food pantries combined with lack of transportation, low wages and underemployment. Racism and long-term inequalities have resulted in rural black people as 2.5 more likely to experience hunger, with rural Native Americans having some of the highest rates of hunger in the country.
  8. Food Sovereignty for Native Americans: Uniquely for Native Americans is the additional issue of native food sovereignty, the “right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.” The significance of food sovereignty led to the creation in 2005 of the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, a national network “dedicated to restoring food systems that support tribal self-determination and community wellness.

Assistance Programs for Food Insecure Americans

In 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that 13.5% of U.S. households (18 million households) were food insecure, meaning that at some time during the year there were insufficient resources to provide enough food for all members of the family. This was an increase over the previous the years. To address this need are many programs, both government programs and programs that nonprofit organizations offer.

Government Food Programs

The first Food Stamp Program came into being in 1939, serving around 20 million people over the course of its existence until spring 1943. There were various similar programs until 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Food Stamp Act, making the program permanent. Over the years, there have been many changes in the program, which has been reborn as SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in America, currently helping approximately 42 million people.

In 2025, the USDA reported that about 25% of Americans participated in at least one of its food and nutrition assistance programs at some point during a given year.

Other government assistance includes programs for:

  • Older adults, e.g., Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program; Commodity Supplemental Food Program providing monthly food boxes to people aged 60 and older
  • Emergencies, e.g., Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  • Women, Infants and Children, WIC
  • School children, e.g., National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Summer Food Service Program
  • Native Americans, e.g., Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation

Nonprofit Programs

Two prominent nonprofit food assistance programs in the U.S. are:

  • Meals on Wheels America: Meals on Wheels American has been in existence for 50 years and is a network of more than 5,000 independent community-based providers that delivers meals to more than two million seniors annually. They report “millions more” waiting to be included.
  • No Kid Hungry: Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010 and is a campaign addressing problems of poverty and hunger within the U.S. as well as globally. Its focus is raising money and awareness, but it also works with programs on the ground, having granted more than $600 million to these programs.  

Addressing Hunger in the U.S.

There are many factors that contribute to hunger in the U.S. among individuals, families and communities. Some of these factors have to be addressed at the societal level such as unemployment, housing, transportation and racism. At the individual level, needs can be met simply by getting food to hungry people, as many government programs and charitable organization do.

– Staff Reports

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Bolivia

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Bolivia
Bolivia is a landlocked, plurinational South American country, sharing a border with five other South American countries. It continues to address issues of both poverty and hunger.

10 Facts About Hunger in Bolivia

  1. Bolivia’s constitution guarantees the right to adequate food. 
  2. Of Bolivia’s 12.4 million people, most (71%) live in urban areas, although poverty and food insecurity are greatest in rural Bolivia. 
  3. In 2022, 15.6% of Bolivians were reported to be living in poverty (using the$6.85/day International Poverty Line), compared to 26% in poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, as measured by Brazil’s National Poverty Line, more than 36% of Brazilians were poverty-stricken. Various factors in 2022, including the elimination of COVID-19 mitigation measures, led to an increase in food prices, and the poorest Brazilians, who spend a higher proportion of their income on food, faced increased food insecurity. 
  4. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), which has been working in the country for over 60 years, Bolivia is one of the top 10 most biodiverse countries in the world but is severely impacted by extreme weather conditions. This affects agriculture and access to food, which in turn impacts poverty and food insecurity, especially for rural and indigenous people. It has been suggested that unless the country implements measures to adapt to climate change, there could be a 22% increase in Bolivians’ hunger vulnerability by 2050. 
  5. In Fall 2023, El Nino led to a state of emergency or disaster in 83% of Bolivia’s municipalities, and severe drought and extremely high temperatures and water shortages affected agricultural production. The July-September planting season could not be completed and over 500 head of livestock died. Indigenous peoples and rural communities were most impacted, with the livelihood of almost two million affected. An increase in anemia and in malnutrition were the result of poor sanitation and hygiene resulting from water shortages. 
  6. Bolivia ranks 71 out of the 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, with a score of 15.6 putting it in the second lowest category, a “moderate” level of hunger. This is an improvement of 12 percentage points since 2000, moving the country out of the “serious” category. 
  7. Although the GHI indicators for Bolivia all declined between 2000 and 2015, since then, undernourishment and child stunting have increased by a few percentage points to just under 20%. Child wasting and child mortality have remained at a low point of approximately 2-3%. 
  8. The Sustainable Development Goals Fund reported that 40% of rural Bolivian children suffer from chronic malnutrition—2.5 times higher than urban children. 
  9. Bolivia has made moderate progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1, No Poverty, but is still classified as having remaining challenges in that area, with its improvement insufficient to attain the desired goal. The Sustainable Development Report sees major challenges for Bolivia to achieve SDG 2, Zero Hunger, particularly undernourishment, stunting and obesity. 
  10. The 2022 Global Nutrition Report noted that Bolivia has implemented food-based dietary guidelines, legislation for mandatory salt iodization, a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, policies to reduce salt/sodium consumption and saturated fatty acid intake. The report also identified additional areas of national food and noncommunicable disease policy still to be addressed. 

The World Food Programme in Bolivia

WFP has a four-pronged approach in Bolivia: resilience building, nutrition, indigenous farmer support, and capacity strengthening. Resilience building includes cash assistance; and activities such as small animal husbandry, fish production and handicrafts. 

Nutrition support has included studies employed by the Ministry of Health and Sports to develop undernutrition and obesity strategies, as well as a Restaurant Week campaign focused on the consumption of nutritious local food products.

Small-scale Indigenous farmers experiencing food insecurity have received cash assistance and education addressing techniques, entrepreneurship and e-commerce.

Capacity strengthening has focused on developing digital information tools for the food system, including the online platform ICCOM that was integrated into governmental websites, providing food security data at all levels—municipal and community, departmental and national.

The WFP’s 2023 Annual Country Report for Bolivia noted direct assistance to over 30,000 people with an indirect benefit to four million people via national programs and policies. In 2023, the first year of a five-year strategic plan (2023-2027) was implemented, with one target being SDG 2. WFP’s many accomplishments include reaching over 17,000 food-insecure people in several areas, construction of water assets in 22 municipalities, installation of satellite internet connections in rural communities and e-commerce training. Their work has incorporated a gender approach to increase economic empowerment for women. Support has included a multi-year grant from the European Union and a grant from the Russian Federation.

– Staff Reports 
Photo: Pixabay
Updated: August 5, 2024

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Honduras

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Honduras
Honduras is the second-poorest country in Latin America and one of the poorest in the world. Approximately 1 in 5 Hondurans are living below the poverty line, in what can be defined as extreme poverty. Along with high rates of poverty come many issues—hunger being one of the biggest. The following are the top 10 facts about hunger in Honduras.

List of Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Honduras

  1. Poverty is the root cause of food insecurity in Honduras. When families do not know where their next meal is coming from, it leads to chronic hunger. A lack of food causes undernutrition in children and can promote the spread of disease.
  2. Rural areas are the most affected by limited food supply. Over half of Honduras’ extremely poor live in rural environments. When homes are isolated and not proximate to urban centers, access to food becomes even more restricted.
  3. Erratic weather patterns in Honduras worsens food insecurity. Honduras has experienced extreme droughts, during which many crops are lost and are no longer a reliable source of nourishment.
  4. Honduras lies in what is called the ‘Dry Corridor’, an area in Central America that is particularly susceptible to irregular and long-lasting droughts. Around 58 percent of children living in the Dry Corridor are undernourished and have stunted growth as a result. Weather is a major contributor to hunger in Honduras.
  5. Nonprofits have stepped up to help during periods of drought. The Honduras Livelihoods and Food and Nutrition Security in the Dry Corridor (ACS-GAFSP) was established after the country saw one of its most severe droughts in 2015 and 2016. The project mainly focuses on increasing food production and income generation, hoping to lift up to 50,000 Honduran families out of poverty.
  6. A lack of education on nutrition contributes to undernourishment. Many of the poor, living in Honduras, are not properly educated on nutritional awareness which leads to nutrient deficiencies. A poorly diversified diet also often leads to stunting in children.
  7. In children under 5 in Honduras, stunting levels are at 23 percent. This rate is tangible evidence of chronic undernourishment in children. In the Dry Corridor area, stunting rates can reach up to 40 percent.
  8. The WFP is working with the Honduran government to decrease hunger-related issues. It is trying to increase the resilience of those working in the agriculture sector in order to create a more steady supply of food. They are also trying to assist vulnerable families affected by food insecurity.
  9. High rates of hunger lead to high rates of migration. If there is no access to food in their home country, Hondurans are more likely to migrate to countries like the U.S. in hopes of having a better life. The WFP released a report in which Hondurans listed “no food” as their main reason for emigration.
  10. A lack of quality diet can also lead to unhealthy rates of obesity. Around 51 percent of women of reproductive age in Honduras are overweight. Reliable access to healthy foods would significantly mitigate this issue.

Hunger in Honduras is an ongoing problem, mostly due to less than ideal weather patterns that prevent the growth of steady crops. Malnutrition leads to many other issues like stunting and high rates of migration. The many nonprofits working toward feeding Hondurans provide hope for a bright future in Honduras.

– Amelia Merchant
Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in India

top 10 facts about hunger
India has struggled with inadequate food and water access over the last few decades. The country’s rapidly growing population has drawn the attention of the world, and several states and organizations have answered the call to address hunger. Following are 10 facts about hunger in India:

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in India

  1. About 15 percent of India is undernourished. This statistic may not initially seem significant, but 15% of 1.34 billion people is roughly 199 million people. To put this in perspective, 199 million people is more than half of the United States. Currently, organizations such as the Fight Hunger Foundation have begun to battle the issue, but it remains prevalent.
  2. One-third of food gets lost or wasted. According to the Indian Food Bank, 40 percent of vegetables and 30 percent of cereals produced are lost due to inefficiencies in the supply chain. New agricultural methods and the overall industrialization of India have sought to increase efficiency.
  3. Women account for 60 percent of India’s hungry population. For the last 65 years, CARE India has emerged as a leader in addressing the issue of hunger in developing areas by focusing on women’s health, education, and access to necessities. The NGO has impacted 24.1 million people directly and 85.8 million indirectly.
  4. 3,000 children die every day from hunger. Those that survive have a high chance of living with hardships in the future. Organizations like Save the Children have turned to India to help decrease this number through aid in the form of food, hygiene, and education.
  5. Around 30 percent of newborns die from lack of nutrition. The Healthy Newborn Network has started to raise awareness regarding the issue because not enough is being done to address this specific aspect of hunger. Improving prenatal care is crucial in sustaining a healthy, growing population.
  6. 21 percent of the population lives on less than $1.90 per day. $1.90 is not nearly enough to live on sustainably. Programs set up by organizations such as Global Aware allow individuals in privileged areas to help solve the problem.
  7. India ranks 97th in addressing hunger. The country’s condition is worse than many believe. Despite being an economic powerhouse, India lacks the resources to properly fix its hunger issue. Foreign aid from other nations has helped in remedying part of the problem.
  8. India is not poor, yet hunger remains an issue. India’s GDP has significantly increased over the last two decades to 2.246 trillion USD. The misplacement of resources and predetermined cultural norms, such as the caste system, have prevented the state from moving forward.
  9. The government, on many levels, has been inefficient in improving the issue. Politics have hindered progress through a lack of effective programs. Inadequate funding has resulted in significant hurdles to solve the issue, and India’s political system must be mended before any real progress can be made toward addressing hunger issues.
  10. The situation has improved. Since 2008, India has climbed five spots in the world ranking from 102 to 97. While there is still substantial room for improvement, the data show that progress is underway. The country’s ranking on the Global Hunger Index has decreased in the last two decades and could improve more given the increase in aid provided by private organizations.

These facts about hunger in India underscore the necessity of policies and programs to improve the living conditions of many of the country’s citizens. Although the country is in dire conditions, progress is being made toward a better life for India’s population.

– Mrinal Singh
Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Jamaica

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Jamaica
Jamaica, the fourth largest island country in the Caribbean, is hungry. The root of hunger is based on inequality and racism. Grassroots projects and programs are developed to alleviate an empty tummy. Here are the top 10 facts about hunger in Jamaica:

  1. Jamaica is highly focused on the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG), especially the ones that address the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger across the globe. After the devastating global recession, Jamaica is keen that their strategies for poverty reduction are financially supported.
  2. Jamaica is not all poverty yet lines of marginalization are obvious. Not far from the country’s wealthy communities live the Jamaicans that have limited access to clean water, food supply, health care and education.
  3. Hunger in Jamaica is largely a reflection of racial inequality. With a heritage rooted in slavery, descendants of black slaves hold a much larger probability of residing amongst the poorest classes of Jamaica. Meanwhile, descendants of the white race and mixed-race plantation owners tend to be much better off.
  4. Most Jamaicans in poverty spend more than half of their income on food. Due to Jamaica’s extreme inflation and reliance on imports, hunger in Jamaica is greatly exacerbated. Despite governmental food subsidy programs, Jamaica’s poor have to spend a large portion of their small incomes on the basics just to survive.
  5. The main cause of nutritional problems in Jamaica still appears to be the lack of economic access to food. With almost 20 percent of the national population living below the poverty line (and many additionally living in rural lands, an unfortunate compounding factor), access to socio-economic infrastructures is nearly impossible.
  6. The rural land doesn’t encapsulate all of Jamaica’s poverty, as high levels of malnutrition in the cities have been observed as well. The urban sectors exemplify an unfortunately high level of unemployment and a decreasing percentage of mothers that are breastfeeding their newborns, ultimately depriving young children of essential nutrients.
  7. Teachers and school staff in Jamaica see hunger as a painful challenge in the everyday lives of students. Inattentive, moody and exhibiting behavioral problems, hungry children struggle to reap the benefits of their education due to malnutrition.
  8. Food For The Poor, a charity organization, is spearheading self-sustaining agriculture projects at schools in order to provide healthy foods for daily meals and combat hunger in Jamaica. At-risk students gain hands-on experience in agriculture and learn methods of self-sustainability. School staff notes that the rate of student attendance has greatly improved as a result of these projects.
  9. The National Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy is an advancement introduced to reduce rates of morbidity and mortality among children. In a nutshell, the policy advocates for the promotion of both breastfeeding and adequate weaning practices. From ages six months to two years old, the policy seeks to encourage breastfeeding and, subsequently, adequate solid foods. According to both the WHO and UNICEF, the mental development of children who are exclusively breastfed is better than those who are not.
  10. Executed by an NGO, The Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) focuses on providing child-rearing knowledge and practices to parents of children younger than four. Through home visits with trained personnel, families are given ideas for income-generating activities and are provided a heavy focus on the health and nutrition of the children.

The above-mentioned facts about hunger in Jamaica reflect the need for a global shift in the widening gap of global income inequality. To be hungry and experience malnutrition is largely a result of lacking an adequate income to feed a household as well as little to no access to healthy and nourishing foods. Luckily, the presence of grassroots programs and education are turning the tides and allowing for a self-sustainable community, and these facts are just the beginning of instilling awareness among the masses.

– Mary Grace Miller
Photo: Pixabay

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Nicaragua

Nicaragua
Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Central America and has the lowest GDP per capita. The country’s economy has grown in recent years, but 40 percent of the population remains in poverty. As a result, hunger in Nicaragua is a major problem. Here are the top 10 facts about hunger in Nicaragua.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Nicaragua

  1. Of children under five in Nicaragua, 17 percent are chronically malnourished. A lack of access to consistent, quality food leads to issues like stunting in children. In order to counter these results, children need to live in homes without food insecurity so they can grow and live to their full potential.
  2. Rates of malnourishment are higher in rural areas of Nicaragua. In some regions, the amount of chronically undernourished children can reach up to 29 percent. These areas are typically more affected by poverty and have limited access to food supplies beyond through agricultural means.
  3. Stunting and below-average height in children under three in Nicaragua are higher than the national average. Issues like stunting are impossible to avoid in a country with high rates of food insecurity; Nicaragua is one of many low-income countries whose children suffer from undernourishment and stunting.
  4. Hunger in Nicaragua is influenced by the country’s geographic location. Nicaragua is susceptible to unpredictable natural disasters like droughts, floods and earthquakes that limit agricultural production. Without a reliable source of food, Nicaraguans are more prone to food insecurity.
  5. Around 70 percent of the population works in agriculture. Since farming is so reliant on weather patterns, people can often be stripped of their means to live instantly by a natural disaster. The country’s dependence on agriculture combined with its erratic weather leads to higher rates of poverty and hunger.
  6. The World Food Program (WFP) has worked in Nicaragua since 1971. The WFP tries to end the cycle of hunger by promoting health and education programs. They aim to create resilience among families that are living with poverty and hunger.
  7. Around 300,000 people in Nicaragua need food assistance. With many people’s livelihoods tied to the unpredictability of the weather, there are a significant number in need of help. Nonprofits like the WFP provide critical relief to the people most in need.
  8. Nicaragua ranks fourth on the Long-Term World Climate Risk Index. This Index is a ranking of countries that are the most vulnerable to climate events based on geographic location and socio-economic information. Nicaragua ranks behind Honduras, Haiti and Myanmar — two of which are located in the same unstable region in Central America.  
  9. Sustainable development is key to fighting hunger in Nicaragua. The WFP works to connect farmers with markets to sell their products, and expands farmers’ production capacity and in turn, their incomes.
  10. The Nicaraguan government uses a School Feeding Program to fight undernourishment in children. Providing school meals massively helps hunger in children, but there are still many children not attending school that are unreached. Programs like this are essential in fighting malnourishment in Nicaragua.

Fight Against Hunger

These top 10 facts about hunger in Nicaragua underscore the need for more sustainable agricultural practices. Thankfully, organizations like the WFP are active and can join the fight against hunger.

– Amelia Merchant
Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Guatemala

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in GuatemalaAmid beautiful landscapes, active volcanoes and a diverse Indigenous population, Guatemala suffers from malnutrition and hunger. Many factors including climate threats, poverty, lack of education and low sanitation have contributed to this crisis over time. With Guatemala’s population growth rate among the highest in Latin America, combating hunger has never been more important. The top 10 facts about hunger in Guatemala below demonstrate the need for help from the global community and the actions taken so far.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Guatemala

  1. Two-thirds of the Guatemalan population live on less than $2 per day. Due to this poverty, many cannot afford the most basic food items, causing Guatemala to have the highest rate of stunted growth in children under the age of 5 in Latin America and one of the highest rates in the world. Overall, the stunting rate is just under half of the young population (46.5%) but reaches up to 90% of children in certain areas.
  2. At 47%, this nation has the sixth-highest prevalence of chronic malnutrition in the world. In indigenous areas, however, the malnutrition rate can reach up to 70%.
  3. Hunger is exacerbated by the problem of inequality in Guatemala. The World Food Programme (WFP) finds Guatemala to have the third highest gender inequality index in Latin America, making Guatemalan women unable to support the nutrition of their children. Furthermore, the indigenous population is particularly impacted by conditions in the country—80% experience poverty. Hunger, malnutrition, poor health and little education are some of the everyday challenges facing Indigenous people.
  4. Natural disasters and climate change intensify the effects of poverty in Guatemala. In the Dry Corridor, for example, periods of excessive rain along with prolonged droughts have threatened the livelihood of subsistence farmers in the region. As food security and agricultural profits plummet, Guatemalans have been forced into eating far less nutritious meals, fallen into debt, and even fled the region.
  5. Food insecurity has followed a worrying trend in Guatemala. In 2023, lack of access to adequate nutrition reached its highest and most prevalent point throughout the nation as a result of climate change’s effects on farming.
  6. The legacy of the Guatemalan Civil War continues in the form of land inequality and the dependence of many Guatemalans, especially indigenous ones, on crops produced by others. With much of their land taken during the war to be used for cash crop plantation farming, Indigenous Guatemalans are especially susceptible to hunger in response to disruptions in the food supply chain.
  7. One of the factors contributing to stunting and hunger in children is the age at which females are having children in Guatemala. Most child rearing starts during adolescence and over 40% of girls have given birth by the time they are 19. Because younger girls tend to be more malnourished than older Guatemalan women, a cycle has been created where the children of these young girls end up malnourished and stunted as well.
  8. Guatemala’s government has taken action to prevent malnutrition. It implemented a plan to increase the yearly budget for nutrition and food by 2.5% and launched its Great National Crusade for Nutrition to reduce malnutrition through an emphasis on maternal care, disease prevention, and an expansion of health care throughout the nation. In addition, Indigenous Guatemalans have secured seats in government councils on nutrition and food security so that particularly hard-hit, indigenous areas receive the treatment and prevention tactics they deserve.
  9. USAID has also taken action to end hunger in Guatemala. Food for Peace offers cash transfers to Guatemalan households living in poverty. Furthermore, the organization shows special attention to women’s financial success and promotes nutritional education.
  10. The World Food Programme (WFP) is ending hunger in Guatemala in several ways. One program works with the government to offer nutritious food to infants and students, prepare the nation for natural disasters interrupting the food supply, and facilitate cash-for-training programs to allow families to buy food. It also supports small farms and provides humanitarian assistance during disasters.

While hunger persists in Guatemala today, there is hope that increased awareness of the top 10 facts about hunger, combined with efforts from multiple governments and organizations, will lead to significant results in the years to come.

– Alexandra Eppenauer and Cole Zickwolff
Photo: Flickr
Updated: October 17, 2024

10 Eye-Opening Facts About Hunger in Nigeria

NigeriaNigeria is one of many food-deficient countries in Africa, and its alarming hunger statistics are tied with high levels of conflict that have plagued the region surrounding Nigeria for years. A food crisis such as Nigeria’s causes distressing levels of stunting in children and is correlated with high rates of poverty. The following are the top 10 facts about hunger in Nigeria.

10 Eye-Opening Facts About Hunger in Nigeria

  1. One-third of children under five are stunted. This statistic is particularly concerning because it is twice the rate of Thailand and three times the rate of Tunisia. Stunting in children is a common symptom of undernourishment and can only be alleviated with a steady supply of adequate food.
  2. The insurgency in the country has led to a large number of displaced people without access to food. The reign of the extremist group, Boko Haram, has left 8.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Nigeria.
  3. On top of the rates of displacement, 5.1 million Nigerians are malnourished. Being on the move makes food sources even less reliable. Countries with high rates of political conflict typically have hunger issues that coincide.
  4. The amount of food insecure households is highest in the rural region of Borno in Nigeria. In Borno State, 64.2 percent of households are food insecure. In late July of 2017, the government of Nigeria declared a state of food and nutrition emergency in Borno.
  5. In the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe there were 400,000 children under 5 at risk of severe acute malnutrition in 2016. Approximately 244,000 of these cases are in Borno alone. Food insecurity especially affects children as they are dependent on nourishment for growth and development.
  6. Action Against Hunger (AAH) is active in Nigeria and has completed an assessment of risk levels in the state of Borno. AAH found levels of global acute malnutrition at 28 percent and severe malnutrition at 8 percent in Borno. These levels are especially alarming because both are almost double the international emergency threshold.
  7. Households headed by females are more inclined to have high rates of food insecurity. In the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, 55 percent of female-headed households are food insecure. Women in low-income countries often have less opportunity to gain employment that would allow them to feed their families, leading to increased levels of food deficiency.
  8. Action Against Hunger has provided clinics to aid with hunger in Nigeria. These clinics provide assistance for malnourished children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. Establishments like these save countless lives every year.
  9. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been active in fighting hunger in Nigeria. In 2017, the ICRC reached over 1 million Nigerians and provided relief and livelihood training and assistance. They also provided 450,000 people in the north-east and Middle Belt regions with food for three months.
  10. Of the 17 million people living in regions affected by Boko Haram, 11 million are in need of humanitarian aid, food, water and shelter. These numbers delineate the effects of political strife on low-income countries. Dangerous and unreliable living conditions are not conducive to access to an adequate food supply.

Fighting Food Insecurity

Levels of hunger in Nigeria are alarming, but the work of organizations like AAF and ICRC have been able to begin the fight against food insecurity. Without the aid of humanitarian workers, a higher number of lives would be lost each year to malnourishment and hunger.

– Amelia Merchant

Photo: Flickr

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Top 10 Hunger Nonprofits

Top 10 hunger nonprofitsAccording to the World Food Programme, some 815 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy and active life, with a vast majority of the world’s hungry people living in developing countries. With many governments struggling to provide aid to their citizens and a calculated $3.2 billion needed per year to start reaching children across the world, many individuals have banded together to bring about change on their own. These top 10 hunger nonprofits have started making a change in the world in the hopes of ending world hunger once and for all.

List of Top 10 Hunger Nonprofits

  1. A Growing Culture: This organization works to boost farmer independence by providing them with the means to adapt to change. It also helps farmers in having a say in the system, something that they currently lack because of industrial farming. A Growing Culture has been working on creating a farmer networking program to connect agriculture enthusiasts from around the world to boost innovative ideas and creating a lasting food system for all.
  2. Bioversity International: This research nonprofit works on saving agricultural and tree biodiversity in order to improve nutrition security as well as to fight climate change. The Bioversity International is a part of an international food security research partnership and works with low-income countries to work on food management practices and new policies to protect biodiversity within their nation.
  3. Community Alliance with Family Farmers: This organization focuses on farming and food systems through many grassroots programs. It tackles current challenges to the food system and supports family farmers and those who live in low-income populations. As an organization, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers tries its best to uphold sustainability within food and farming systems.
  4. Agricultural Biodiversity Community: Made up of more than 100 individuals and organizations, the Agricultural Biodiversity Community shares the idea that agricultural biodiversity can save the world. By utilizing conservation techniques and the development of food security in many regions, this organization seeks to enhance food security on a global scale.
  5. Green Shoots Foundation: Based in six different countries in Asia, the Green Shoots Foundation aims to improve healthcare and education through a program called the Food and Agriculture and Social Entrepreneurship program. These programs combine agriculture, peer education and community building to help communities in Asia create a better future for all.
  6. Groundswell International: As one of the top 10 hunger nonprofits, Groundswell International is unique in that it is a global partnership consisting of multiple nonprofits, local organizations and communities that all work to combat food insecurity. It also works to improve and start healthy food systems in many low-income countries and teaches new farming techniques to help improve community health.
  7. Heifer International: This global nonprofit aims to erase poverty through community development. It helps train families in sustainable food practices and its goal is to increase self-reliance among families. From teaching environmentally friendly farming techniques to helping families improve their lives, Heifer International is an effective organization.
  8. IFOAM Organics International: At the center of the organic movement worldwide is the IFOAM organization. IFOAM’s goal is to improve transparency with organic standards and balance local adaption and food diversity. Operating in over 100 countries worldwide, IFOAM is a force to be reckoned with.
  9. INGA Foundation: The Inga alley cropping is an alternative to the slash and burn agriculture practice that the INGA Foundation teaches to farmers and communities globally. This practice restores degraded land and protects rainforests from destruction. Soil fertility is retained and trees also benefit from this method of agriculture.
  10. Kiss the Ground: With the mission statement “We can do this!”, Kiss the Ground tries to balance climate using technology and science and its goal is to recreate the food system. Every initiative this organization starts is based on a message of a hopeful future.

The top 10 hunger nonprofits all have a similar goal: to end world hunger. Stopping world hunger isn’t easy but these organizations have taken on the challenge and work tirelessly for a better future. We need more individuals and organizations to do the same.

– Michael Huang
Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Hunger in Bangladesh

10 Facts About Hunger In BangladeshBangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries; as home to over 160 million people in an area the size of Illinois. Since the country first garnered international attention, it has made great progress in human development, namely in the areas of literacy and life expectancy. But economic inequality has increased and approximately 32 percent, i.e. 50 million people still live in extreme poverty.

Compounded by inadequate arable land and recurrent natural disasters, Bangladesh has struggled immensely with food insecurity. Despite tripling its rice production, decreasing infant mortality rates, and programs combating malnutrition, 60 million people are still hungry even today. 

List of Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Bangladesh

  1. Bangladesh has the highest rate of underweight children in South Asia. One in two children below 5 years are chronically undernourished or stunted, and 14 percent suffer from acute undernutrition or wasting. WHO estimates that two in three deaths under the age of five are caused by undernutrition.
  2. Out of the 50 million people who lack food security in Bangladesh, less than half have access to food safety net programs. Food programs have a successful impact, however, poor coverage, targeting and administration have impacted effectiveness.
  3. Food insecurity and malnutrition among the vulnerable populations are high. These are further impacted by seasonality and the price of available foods. The two lean seasons in Bangladesh worsen food insecurity, reduce food availability as well as employment opportunities particularly for the rural poor.
  4. Food insecurity in Bangladesh stems from extreme poverty due to underemployment and unemployment, inadequate land access for cultivation, social exclusion and natural disasters. In these vulnerable, poor populations, women and children are most affected by malnutrition and undernutrition.
  5. Approximately 24 percent of women are underweight and 13 percent are short in stature, significantly increasing the likelihood that their children will be stunted.
  6. About 25 percent of children’s diets meet dietary variety standards where a minimum of four out of seven food groups are consumed on a daily basis.
  7. Sacrifices in food consumption for the sake of feeding children, particularly in times of scarcity, is highly gender biased. In most cases, it is an adult woman who must make a sacrifice. Disproportionate poverty faced by women and children comes as a result of discrimination and traditions of exclusion, thereby leaving them the most vulnerable.
  8. In wealthy households, 26 percent of children below 5 years are stunted and 12 percent are wasted. Undernutrition then is not just a symptom of poverty. Poverty has declined remarkably since the year 2010, dropping from 49 percent to roughly 25 percent in 2016. Yet hunger still persists.
  9. Micronutrient deficiencies lead to ‘hidden hunger’. Of note, 50 percent of the salt produced in Bangladesh is not adequately iodized, rice dominates the diet and its low nutrient density likely contributes to the high rates of zinc deficiency.
  10. Environmental disasters if ignored could increase food insecurity. In addition to natural disasters that flood farms and cause rural unemployment, the lack of education and training in sustainable agricultural methods have caused soil degradation that impacts rice production.

Since the year 2000, hunger has been cut by nearly half in Bangladesh. Experts site economic growth, improved agricultural productivity, access to markets for farmers and social safety nets for the most vulnerable as ways to end hunger. Bangladesh’s success in these areas, especially rice production, has helped cut hunger in half.

Yet these 10 facts about hunger in Bangladesh illustrate how several key challenges still remain as millions continue to battle undernutrition, transient food insecurity and hidden hunger every single day.

– Joseph Ventura
Photo: Flickr