International (MNN) — For the first time in history, over
one billion people go hungry each day–1.02 billion to be exact.
According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, there are 100 million more people in chronic hunger and poverty than last year. The organization
also said this is "caused by the global economic crisis that has resulted in
lower earnings and lost jobs."
A staggering majority of the world's hungry come from
developing countries. Around 642 million people go without food in Asia and the
Pacific, 265 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, 53 million in Latin America and the
Caribbean, 42 million in the Near East and North Africa, and only 15 million in
developed countries.
These numbers caused world leaders at this year's G8 Summit
to realize something needs to be done. That's why "the G8 industrialized countries
pledged to spend $20 billion during the next three years to confront world
hunger," according to Voice of America News.
While world leaders agreed this would help a number of
people temporarily, they also agreed the world's rich taking care of the world's
poor would not work forever, and handouts would only help so much.
Instead, the focus needs to be on food security. Staffan de
Mistura, World Food Program's Deputy Executive Director, explained this by
saying, "Food for food security means food for agriculture development. It means the
farmers will be given the opportunity to produce more food, while being kept
alive, and the schools being able to keep the children going while the production
of the farmers goes on. It means buying food locally or giving food or cash vouchers so
that people in a certain country can go on and buy local food, and through that,
also help the local shop keepers," according to VOA News.
De Mistura believes the ultimate goal is for farmers to
become completely self-sufficient.
In keeping with these solutions, Food for the Hungry has
been working since 1971 against world hunger and poverty.
You can help them in their mission three different ways. First,
prayer is essential for world's starving souls, especially those without Christ.
These people have been hit the hardest by the economic crisis and may not survive
it.
Second, when you give financially to Food for the Hungry, your
money goes towards developing the most effective programs to fight hunger.
Finally, you can sponsor a child through Food for the
Hungry. In doing so, you not only feed a hungry child, but you play a part in transforming
the child's family and community.
Visit Food for the Hungry's Web site to help, or call 1-800-248-6437.
