HUNGER CRISIS

For years, members of the Alliance to End Hunger have been working to

feed hungry people, challenging governments to implement policies that provide food security for their citizens and combating the causes of poverty so more people can afford to feed their families.  Over the last 30 years there has been incremental, yet significant progress against hunger and malnutrition, albeit slow at times, and often without fanfare or publicity. 

Sadly, recent gains are threatened by the current hunger crisis, brought on by the steep rise in food prices, now gripping the world.  The causes are many and complex:  rising food prices, record fuel prices, drought in key agricultural regions, misguided government policies and inaction by the international community. 

But there are short and long-term solutions that can stem the tide of the “silent tsunami.”  People cannot eat in the long-term, so emergency assistance for those who are hungry at home and abroad needs to be provided. Further investments need to be made in agricultural development and productivity.  For a comprehensive list of solutions that Alliance president Rev. David Beckmann proposed to President Bush, click here.

In June 2008 , Rev. Beckmann attended the U.N. High-Level Conference on World Food Security in Rome. Speaking at the plenary session, Rev. Beckmann argued that the response to the world hunger crisis should include efforts to build the political will to end hunger. Click here to listen to the audio or read his remarks. To read Rev. Beckmann's full report on the the conference and the current hunger crisis, click here.  

Alliance members are engaging the global hunger crisis on many fronts and there is a role everyone can play.  Give to your favorite charity serving hungry and poor people.  Make a donation of food to your local food bank to help meet the growing need for supplemental food in your community.  Contact your members of Congress and urge them to provide immediate assistance and construct future policies to help hungry people at home and abroad. 

Resources from the Alliance and its members about the hunger crisis:

Alliance to End Hunger

NEW POLL: Hunger Message Project reveals one in four American voters fear hunger

Report on the U.N. High-Level Conference on World Food Security by Rev. David Beckmann, President of the Alliance to End Hunger and Bread for the World.

Statement by Rev. David Beckmann, President of the Alliance to End Hunger and Bread for the World at the U.N. High-Level Conference on World Food Security, June 5, 2008 (To listen to audio, click here.)  

Testimony by Eva Clayton, Honorary Co-chair of the Alliance to End Hunger, before the House Committee on Financial Services on May 14, 2008.

America’s Second Harvest

Hunger Action Center: a community of individuals who are deeply passionate about solving the problem of hunger in America

Testimony by George Braley, Senior Vice President, America’s Second Harvest, before the Senate Joint Economic Committee on May 1, 2008.

Bread for the World

Recipe for Hope: Responding to the Global Hunger Crisis

Testimony by Rev. David Beckmann, President of the Alliance to End Hunger and Bread for the World, before the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee on June 18, 2008.

Testimony by Rev. David Beckmann, President of the Alliance to End Hunger and Bread for the World, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on May 7, 2008.

BLOG:  Institute Notes - Dialogue on overcoming hunger and poverty is a forum to discuss current news and research on domestic and international hunger and poverty issues.

Bread Notes – Rising Food Prices Are Producing Global Hunger Crisis

Bread Notes – Rising Food Prices Hit Hungry and Poor People Hardest

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Food Stamp Inflation Adjustment Lags, Resulting in Inadequate Benefits, report by Dorothy Rosenbaum, July 23, 2008

Friends of the World Food Program
Global Hunger Crisis

Gallup Polls on Hunger and Food Prices

A Portrait of Hunger in Africa – a poll measuring how often residents in 29 sub-Saharan African countries went without enough to eat before the recent food price surges.

Affording Food a Challenge for Many – even before food crisis,this poll shows that across 134 countries, a median of 26% said they could not buy food at times.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Testimony by H. Eric Schockman, Ph.D., before the California State Assembly on the impact of rising food prices on low-income families in California, May 15, 2008.

National Farmers Union
Testimony by Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union, before the Senate Joint Economic Committee on May 1, 2008.

Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa
Testimony by M. Peter McPherson, Chair of the Board, Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 14, 2008

RESULTS
Food crisis points to need for foreign aid reform, July 2008

World Food Program
WFP Media Backgrounder – Rising Food Prices: Impact on the Hungry

New Faces of Hunger – Presentation by Josette Sheeran, Executive Director

High food prices:  Impact and recommendations– Paper prepared by WFP, FAO and IFAD for the Chief Executives Board of Coordination Meeting on April 28-29, 2008

For more information about the Hunger Crisis, go to the Resources page. 

For daily updates on Hunger in the News, go to Bread for the World’s website http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-in-the-news/.