WASHINGTON (June 7, 2024) The following statement is attributed to Eric Mitchell, President of the Alliance to End Hunger.
“The Alliance is gravely concerned about the continued and worsening global hunger crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have just released their latest Hunger Hotspots report – warning that acute food insecurity is likely to continue to deteriorate over the next several months.
According to the report, the predominant causes of hunger and malnutrition in areas of concern are armed violence and conflict. From Gaza, to Sudan, to Haiti, conflict is resulting in widespread displacement, reduced humanitarian access and destruction of food systems. Unfortunately, woefully inadequate funding is compounding this crisis.
We must provide the necessary resources to humanitarian and multilateral organizations working in these global hotspots if we are to reverse the troubling trend of a growing global food crisis. Unfortunately, Congress is going in the wrong direction. Just last week the House of Representatives’ State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee proposed to cut the FY25 spending bill by 12%, including a cut of $1.3 billion to the International Disaster Assistance – an account used to address acute food insecurity around the world – precisely at the time we need to increase the budget. Next week the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee will take up the portion of the FY25 spending bill funding the Food for Peace program, threatening similar devastating cuts.
The Alliance to End Hunger is adamant about maintaining the United States’ reputation as a leader on global food and nutrition security. This can only happen if our elected leaders adequately support programs that continue to fight hunger and malnutrition around the world every day.”
