May 28th marks annual World Hunger Day, a day to raise awareness for the 690 million people living in hunger. This day was created by the Hunger Project who urge people to come together and realize that all people should have access to a healthy and fulfilling life. On top of the 690 million people, a further 130 million people may be pushed into chronic hunger by the pandemic.
Causes of World Hunger
The world produces enough food to feed all 7.5 billion people so why do 1 in 9 people around the world go hungry each day? Poverty and hunger create a vicious cycle that can be near impossible to get out of. Families struggling with poverty can’t afford food leading to undernourishment. This means they aren’t able to work to earn money to buy more food.
Another leading contributor to world hunger is war. Wars lead to mass displacement and abandoned fields leading to crop failure. Soaring inflation means that imported food is not affordable and countries such as Yemen and Sudan need humanitarian food assistance.
The World Bank estimates that climate change can push a further 100 million people into poverty over the next decade. Climate change affects the poorest regions of the world in extreme ways. Many countries depend on rainfall for their harvests to grow and flourish but due to rising temperatures around the world and a lack of rainfall, many of these harvests are destroyed.
How Can I Help?
The Hunger Project aims to empower people living in hunger to become agents of change and their sustainable approach has mobilized over 500,000 local leaders in 13 countries around the world! They believe that no-one should be left behind and have been supporting communities where social distancing is a privilege by spreading correct information and sanitation.
This year they are inviting you to take part in their grassroots campaign. Play your part in ending hunger around the world once and for all by:
- Invest – in the sustainable end of hunger. Your investment could support a comminuty by planting trees that will provide a source of food, income and energy. Or, you could be supporting a female entrepreneur by providing training so she can provide for her family! There are so many ways your investment could make an impact to these communities in need.
- Share – Raise awareness and share this message on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Did you know 60% of world’s hungry are women? If not, spread this message so people like you are made aware of this world crisis because awareness creates change.
- Challenge - Take part in the Live Below the Line Challenge. This is a 5 day challenge where you only spend £1 a day for all your food and drink. Join this challenge to help people rise above the poverty line. Click here to learn how you can participate.
We hope this article has been able to raise a little about of awareness and has encouraged you to play your part in providing sustainable solutions to end hunger and poverty.
By Pooja Depala