Let’s work together to help end the hunger crisis so that one day, no one in the world will have to go to bed hungry.
Let’s work together to help end the hunger crisis so that one day, no one in the world will have to go to bed hungry.
The pandemic has made the situation even more dire for those in need. The World Food Program, a branch of the United Nations, had expected to serve 138 million people this year, according to an article in The Washington Post. That is the highest that number has been in its 60-year history.
2020 was truly unforgettable. The pandemic had forced millions of businesses to shut down worldwide, costing millions of people their jobs and livelihoods. As things start to look more hopeful this year, we can’t forget that we are still fighting an even bigger crisis … the global hunger crisis.
There are more contributing factors that have led to this global hunger crisis. According to The New York Times, oil prices went down significantly, the travel and tourism industry entered a severe halt, climate change has been impacting us even harder, and there has been an increase in violence due to the lockdowns and protests. Sadly, the list goes on.
In countries such as India, food insecurity for people who work minimum-wage jobs with no real benefits are more likely to die from starvation than the virus. In Venezuela, residents were so desperate that they started to sell personal belongings so they could pay for their next meal.
Africa had the biggest locust invasion it has seen in over 70 years; this along with COVID-19 had put over 25 million East Africans into severe hunger. The locusts were damaging their crops, which are a huge food source for the people there, according to the U.S Global Leadership Coalition.
In the United States, nearly 1 in 4 households has experienced food insecurity, according to an NPR report. Kids who relied on school to provide them with lunches are still struggling tremendously due to schools being closed. These numbers are alarming. Your own neighbors can be hungry and you wouldn’t even realize it.
There are several ways to help fight this crisis. You can start by donating money toward a reputable charity. Zakat Foundation of America, a humanitarian organization based in Chicago, has a Ramadan campaign called “Feel the Hunger to Do Good” that is geared toward raising awareness for the ongoing hunger crisis. They also partnered up with DoorDash recently for the month of Ramadan, pledging to feed 15,000 people in the United States with ongoing nationwide food distributions. The humanitarian organization has an overall goal to provide 100,000 meals domestically this month. You, too, can sign up and volunteer to help someone in need.
If donating money might be difficult, Zakat Foundation of America has launched an initiative to raise awareness about food insecurity. Upload your photo here and share it with friends and family to not only raise awareness for the hunger crisis but also help feed a hungry person.
Let’s work together to help end the hunger crisis so that one day, no one in the world will have to go to bed hungry.
