End extream hunger

“The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) currently puts the number of people at risk of starvation at more than 270 million.” (World Food Program: “Global Update on COVID-19: November 2020” “Global Update on COVID-19: November 2020” )

There are 3 primary drivers of extreme hunger, 

1 Conflict, 

2 Climate and

3 Poverty. 

Ending extreme hunger is complex; however, there are fundamental issues where we could be doing much better.

One area is how the global community funds humanitarian crises. Multiple sources have outlined how humanitarian crises are underfunded by over 50%

For example, the  Global humanitarian overview 2021 produced by the United Nations estimates that less than half of humanitarian response plans are funded.  In effect, this means that for every 10 people who need our help, we only reach 5. 

To understand what this means, we must develop an understanding of what extreme hunger is. Extreme hunger is defined as not knowing where your next meal is coming from. As such, mothers and fathers resort to short term coping strategies. 

The IPC FAMINE REVIEW for South Sudan reveals that up to 97% of mothers and fathers are reducing their food portion size so that their children can eat more.

 As extreme hunger continues and child and adult malnutrition rates increase, families begin to sell whatever assets they have, such as livestock, farming equipment, radios, bicycles. As a last resort, farming families who constitute the majority of people in extreme hunger start eating the seeds that have been kept for the upcoming planting.

What role does humanitarian aid fill and why should wealthy countries do more to fund emergency humanitarian crises?

When humanitarian Aid and funding deficits mean that people's immediate food needs are not being met, this cannot be seen as charity rather than a fundamental issue on the right to food. In November 1970 a target was set to reach the target of .7% Gross National income no later than 1980. It has continually been re-endorsed at the highest level at international aid and development conferences:

In 2005, the 15 countries that were members of the European Union agreed to reach the target by 2015. Despite these commitments, overseas Aid has remained largely stagnant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_development_aid_country_donors

An easy way for you the general public to understand the global hunger crisis is by watching this video on hunger produced by the United Nations

Link to the Sofi Report video 2021 The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021