Hunger Facts
Causes | Effects | Solutions
- This year (as every year) 11 million children younger than 5 will die needlessly,
more than half from hunger-related causes.Source 2
- Few of these deaths are related to outright starvation, but rather to common
illnesses (like diarrhea, acute respiratory illness, malaria and measles)
that move in on vulnerable children whose bodies have been weakened by hunger.Source
2
- Freedom from Hunger concentrates its services on the world’s poorest
nations where, on average, 27% of children under 5 are moderately to severely
underweight, 10% are severely underweight, 8% of children under 5 are moderately
to severely wasted, or seriously below weight for one’s height, and
an overwhelming 32% are moderately to severely stunted, or seriously below
normal height for one’s age.Source 3
- In the developing world, more than 1.2 billion people currently live below
the international poverty line, earning less than $1 per day.Source
4
- Among this group of poor people, many have problems obtaining adequate,
nutritious food for themselves and their families. As a result, 815 million
people in the developing world are undernourished. They consume less than
the minimum amount of calories essential for sound health and growth.Source
2
- Undernourishment negatively affects people’s health, productivity,
sense of hope and overall well-being. A lack of food can stunt growth, slow
thinking, sap energy, hinder fetal development and contribute to mental retardation.Source
2
- Economically, the effort of constantly securing food consumes valuable
time and energy, allowing poor people less time for work and earning income.Source
2
- Pregnant women, new mothers who breastfeed infants, and children are among
the most at risk of undernourishment.Source 5
- For detailed information about our methodology, including access to our
technical manuals, research papers and evaluations, visit www.ffhresource.org.
What Causes Chronic Hunger?
Chronic hunger affects more than 800 million people in the world and is, in and of itself, a potentially deadly condition. You may be surprised to learn that it has little to do with food shortages. Global supplies of food far outstrip demand.
Far more people die from causes related to chronic hunger than to famine. Chronically
hungry people are exceptionally vulnerable when famine strikes. They have fewer
resources to protect themselves and their families and are already living on
the margin of survival.
There are five things that do contribute to most of the world's hunger:1
Poverty. Poor people do not have the resources -- whether
land, tools or money--needed to grow or buy food on a consistent basis.
Armed Conflict. War disrupts agricultural production, and
governments often spend more on arms than on social programs.
Environmental Overload. Over-consumption by wealthy nations
and rapid population growth in poor nations strain natural resources and make
it harder for poor people to feed themselves.
Discrimination. Lack of access to education, credit and employment
-- a recipe for hunger -- is often the result of racial, gender or ethnic discrimination.
Lack of Clout. In the final analysis, hunger is caused by
powerlessness. People who don't have power to protect their own interests are
hungry. The burden of this condition falls most acutely on children, women and
elderly people.
The Effects of Chronic Hunger
Chronic hunger -- or food insecurity -- is as devastating to families, communities,
and countries as is famine. Chronic hunger claims more victims than famine each
year -- by far. Effects of chronic hunger include:
High Infant Mortality Rates. Malnourished women are more likely
to be sick, have smaller babies, and die earlier, resulting in high levels of
infant mortality in areas where chronic hunger is a problem. And where infant
and child mortality is high, birth rates are also high, locking these communities
in a vicious cycle of malnutrition and death.
Vulnerability to Common Illnesses. More than two million children
die every year from dehydration caused by diarrhea. A malnourished child often
lacks the strength to survive a severe case of diarrhea.
Increased Risk of Infection. A malnourished child has a weakened
immune system, making the child more vulnerable to infection. Infections cause
lack of appetite and further compromise the child's ability to fight off recurrent
and lingering infections.
Acute Vulnerability in Times of Disaster. A community’s
poorest families are already living on the edge of survival. Unexpected shocks,
such as crop failure, floods, epidemics, locusts or typhoons result in devastation
and almost certain death to some members of the family.
Impediments to Development. Chronic hunger deprives children
of the essential proteins, micronutrients and fatty acids they need to grow
adequately. Globally, it is estimated that nearly 226 million children are stunted
-- shorter than they should be. In addition, stunted children score significantly
lower on intelligence tests than do normal children.
Impediments to Economic Growth. For the nearly 67 million
children who weigh less than they should due to chronic hunger, completing school
is an unlikely reality. Studies have shown that underweight children will probably
spend fewer years in school, which, in turn, has a measurable impact on how
much they earn in adulthood.
Self-Help Solutions to a Worldwide Problem
Unlike famine or periodic hunger due to war or natural disasters, chronic hunger
is a persistent and insidious condition that can affect generations of people
in a geographic region. Those living with chronic hunger face a host of problems
that go beyond lack of food or money.
To alleviate this condition, efforts must address root causes, be sustainable
(that is, programs must pay for themselves), and they must be implemented by
local people for the long term. Freedom from Hunger's Credit with Education
program is just such a strategy. We are transferring the program technology
we have developed to local people around the world, and they are using it to
help their own families and communities.
Sources:
- Bread for the World
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations
- UNICEF
- United Nations Development Program
- World Health Organization
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