World Food Crisis

Jo Lewry, CAFOD Portsmouth’s Community Participation Co-ordinator shares five facts that you may not know about the world food crisis …

1. Extreme hunger is on the rise
Even before the pandemic struck, in 2019, close to 750 million people were exposed to severe levels of food insecurity. Now, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, as many as 811 million people around the world are facing extreme hunger – that’s an increase of roughly 60 million people in just three years.

2. Children suffer the most
In 2020, around the world, 149 million children under five were affected by stunting (being too short for their age) and 45 million children were affected by wasting (being too thin for their height) – conditions caused by malnutrition, untreated infections and inadequate mother-and-baby healthcare support.

3. Our global food system is broken
Big food companies are growing and sharing food in ways that harm the planet and make it hard for people around the world to have enough food to eat. Simply put, there’s enough food in the world to feed everyone but it isn’t shared equally. That’s why nearly 10 per cent of the world’s population go hungry. emissions.

4. Families across East Africa are preparing to face the worst drought in over 40 years
In Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, up to 20 million people are fighting for their very survival. Isacko Jirma, an aid expert who lives and works in Marsabit, Kenya, told us: “We need more support to bring water and food to these communities that are really suffering. We need to feed these hungry people and quench their thirst. We need resources to reach out to these communities to save their lives.”

5. You can help put an end to the food crisis
Together, we can reach out with love to help our sisters and brothers around the world who are facing extreme hunger through no fault of their own. With your support families can build resilience in the face of extreme hunger, with tools, training and climate-resistant seeds to help with sustainable farming, emergency food, water, shelter, and so much more.

Please donate to our World Food Crisis appeal here