13 May 2011
While the world has its attention riveted on the political events in North Africa and the Middle East or on natural disasters such as those happening in Japan, an unprecedented food crisis is taking place that is affecting millions of people around the world.
Soaring food prices
In December 2008, food prices reached their highest level in 30 years. The economic crisis and market volatility then plunged millions of people into poverty. Yet, according to a report by the FAO in December 2010, new records have now been reached. In March, prices recorded a slight drop for the first time in eight months.
Dramatic consequences
Such volatility may seem innocuous, yet 44 million people will be pushed under the poverty threshold due to these price increases.
One billion people already suffer from chronic malnutrition. In the poorest countries, almost 80% of the family’s budget is spent on food that is often of poor quality. Children and pregnant women are most affected by malnutrition because they become then more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. But, families no longer have the means to seek medical care in such situations. As a result, approximately one third of deaths in children under five years of age are linked to malnutrition!
The crisis is already taking place
This is not simply a case of scaremongering. A crisis is already unfolding in numerous vulnerable countries such as Haiti or Egypt, to name just a few.
In Bangladesh, for example, the delegation from Terre des hommes carried out a survey in five periurban centres. It revealed that almost 33% of the children under five years of age who were examined suffered from acute malnutrition and 18% of those suffered from severe acute malnutrition. According to the World Health Organisation, the threshold for declaring a state of emergency is set at 15%. The projects on the ground were immediately reorganised to deal with this alarming crisis by opening up new structures or increasing support capacities. At the same time, the resilience of populations facing food insecurity was strengthened, and promotional efforts, as well as projects focusing on prevention, clean water, sanitation and hygiene, are now underway.
Terre des hommes is active in the area of health and nutrition with 19 projects currently being run in 15 countries. Its ability to respond to these types of emergencies and implement rapid and appropriate interventions depends to a large extent on donations.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/out-of-the-spotlight-the-food-crisis-worsens
While the world has its attention riveted on the political events in North Africa and the Middle East or on natural disasters such as those happening in Japan, an unprecedented food crisis is taking place that is affecting millions of people around the world.
Soaring food prices
In December 2008, food prices reached their highest level in 30 years. The economic crisis and market volatility then plunged millions of people into poverty. Yet, according to a report by the FAO in December 2010, new records have now been reached. In March, prices recorded a slight drop for the first time in eight months.
Dramatic consequences
Such volatility may seem innocuous, yet 44 million people will be pushed under the poverty threshold due to these price increases.
One billion people already suffer from chronic malnutrition. In the poorest countries, almost 80% of the family’s budget is spent on food that is often of poor quality. Children and pregnant women are most affected by malnutrition because they become then more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. But, families no longer have the means to seek medical care in such situations. As a result, approximately one third of deaths in children under five years of age are linked to malnutrition!
The crisis is already taking place
This is not simply a case of scaremongering. A crisis is already unfolding in numerous vulnerable countries such as Haiti or Egypt, to name just a few.
In Bangladesh, for example, the delegation from Terre des hommes carried out a survey in five periurban centres. It revealed that almost 33% of the children under five years of age who were examined suffered from acute malnutrition and 18% of those suffered from severe acute malnutrition. According to the World Health Organisation, the threshold for declaring a state of emergency is set at 15%. The projects on the ground were immediately reorganised to deal with this alarming crisis by opening up new structures or increasing support capacities. At the same time, the resilience of populations facing food insecurity was strengthened, and promotional efforts, as well as projects focusing on prevention, clean water, sanitation and hygiene, are now underway.
Terre des hommes is active in the area of health and nutrition with 19 projects currently being run in 15 countries. Its ability to respond to these types of emergencies and implement rapid and appropriate interventions depends to a large extent on donations.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/out-of-the-spotlight-the-food-crisis-worsens
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