All over the globe, the climate crisis, conflict, trade disruptions and the Covid-19 pandemic are creating a perfect storm of famine and extreme hunger.
About 50 million of the world’s most vulnerable citizens are on the edge of famine. The situation is so dire that malnutrition could become the defining humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.
But the good news is that World Vision is actively tackling this global challenge with the help of everyday Australian supporters.
Here’s what we know about the devastating impact of the quiet catastrophe, and the solutions ready to be embraced.
Ten seconds is an agonisingly long time when you’re doing burpees at the gym or waiting for the toaster to pop. If you’re a racecar driver, it’s the duration of a slower-than-average pit stop.
But it also marks the shocking frequency with which children around the world succumb to malnutrition (calculated on the basis of 3.1 million deaths a year). Nutrition-related factors contribute to about 45% of preventable deaths among the under-5s, and a severely wasted child is 11 times more likely than a well nourished child to die from common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria.
For children who survive, malnutrition has the potential to severely stunt physical and mental development, leading to lifelong learning difficulties.
The hunger crisis can feel like an insurmountable problem, but some surprisingly simple solutions are working to counter the devastation wrought by malnutrition.
One highly effective solution is an emergency “superfood” made from energy-dense nuts and skimmed milk powder. It packs a nutritional punch, thanks to a mix of vitamins and minerals.
Importantly, as drought is a driving factor of food insecurity in nations such as Kenya and Ethiopia, the high-energy paste doesn’t need to be combined with water before consumption, and it can be eaten directly from the packet, reducing the risk of contamination in unhygienic conditions.
When combined with quality healthcare and nutritional services, these types of innovative solutions can change the course of children’s lives.
Of the many thousands of severely malnourished children treated by World Vision in the decade up to 2021, 89% made a full recovery. They’ve been given the opportunity to become thriving members of their communities, attending school and forging a brighter path forward – one where extreme hunger doesn’t define their lives or their opportunities.
Transformation is only possible with support, and World Vision sponsors and donors have made it possible for the organisation to mount the biggest response to extreme hunger, famine, and malnutrition in its history.
The Global Hunger Response covers 26 of the countries most affected by famine and extreme hunger, and has reached almost 20 million people. Last year alone, World Vision helped feed almost 685,000 children aged under five.
That’s an impressive and inspiring result by any measure, and every World Vision supporter can make a difference by contributing to this monumental global effort.
Sleeping on an empty stomach is uncomfortable at the best of times. But for nine-year-old Joshua, it was a daily experience.
His home town in Kenya was struck by devastating drought, meaning his family’s modest crops were either wiped out or failed to materialise for years on end – such is the harsh reality of the climate crisis.
But World Vision sponsorship gave Joshua’s parents the opportunity to turn their situation around through climate-smart agriculture.
Now, the family tends a thriving vegetable garden packed with drought-resistant vegetables, fruit and maize. It means they can make three nutritious meals every day – and nobody climbs into bed with a rumbling stomach.
Joshua enjoys the educational opportunities afforded to him by a healthy, balanced diet, both at home and in the classroom. He takes a keen interest in his parents’ agricultural efforts and enjoys learning new things at school.
“School is fun,” he says, “I have energy to play with my friends and I concentrate better in class because I eat and take enough food to school.”
Sponsor a child today and help end global hunger with World Vision.
