Crazy as it may seem, you might have noticed that UK supermarkets have begun to limit the number of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers you’re allowed to buy.
But while we mourn having to ration tomato soup and tuna sandwiches, this problem is nothing compared to the real global food crisis going on in the world.
How Urgent Is this Global Food Crisis?
As many as 800 million people are in such dire need of food that they face life-threatening hunger every day. That’s 1 in 10 people globally who don’t have enough to eat.
Sadly, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the precise reason why there’s such a food shortage in some parts of the world. However, we do know that conflict is one of the biggest causes, with 60% of those facing food insecurity living in war-torn areas.
Fortunately, there’s still hope.
By feeding and educating children in the midst of the food crisis, we can get one step closer to ending the cycle of poverty once and for all. But with 73 million children currently attending school on an empty stomach, this needs to be a worldwide priority.
Which Countries Need Our Help?
Charity Right operates in eight countries across the world, with populations who are all facing acute food insecurity.
Turkey hosts more refugees than any other country, with nearly 4 million seeking safety within their borders. While our efforts include providing daily school meals to Uyghur refugees, there’s still a lot of work to be done as 84.3% of all refugees in Turkey face some level of food insecurity.
Afghanistan requires emergency aid since 95% of Afghans face food insecurity. Sadly, this statistic rises to 100% for female-headed households. With 22.8 million Afghans facing life-threatening levels of food insecurity, we are aiming to help some of the 3.5 million children there who are in desperate need of proper nutrition.
Yemen is another country that demands particular attention. There are currently 17 million people Yemenis suffering from food insecurity, including 1.3 million mothers and 2.2 million under-fives suffering from malnutrition. Since their economy has halved since 2015, 80% of the population now live below the poverty line and require emergency aid.
In Pakistan, 1 in 5 are undernourished, while 36.9% face food insecurity. This includes 3.4 million children and 44% of under-fives who suffer from stunting. Many children aren’t given the chance they need to break the poverty cycle, with around 25% of parents relying on their children earning an extra income just to keep the family alive.
Children in Bangladesh also have a challenging start to life. 1 in 2 under-fives are chronically undernourished or stunted, with two-thirds of their deaths due to complications caused by undernutrition. This is far from a surprise, considering 75% of their meals don’t meet the dietary variety standard.
Meanwhile in Africa, Ethiopia is home to 20.4 million people in need of food assistance, exacerbated by recent droughts that have decreased crop yields by 10%. In Malawi, 5.4 million face moderate to severe chronic food insecurity, with 40% of children suffering from stunting. And Sudan also suffers from food insecurity, made worse by a civil war for the last four years that has led to 1 in 3 people fleeing their homes and half the population facing extreme hunger.
What Can We Do This Ramadan?
Ramadan is more than just a time for fasting. As the most important and sacred month in the Islamic calendar, it’s a time for charity and generosity – especially when all rewards from good acts and charitable giving are magnified greatly.
By donating to Charity Right in preparation for Ramadan, you can provide school meals to the children and young people who need them most, giving them the health and energy they need for a happy childhood and an education that will break the cycle of poverty.
But there’s no time to waste. These young lives are struggling and starving right now – and you can do something to help them.
Kick off your Ramadan now with the best act of generosity you can make.
