Dear Activist,
Food insecurity spans across countries, communities, and households. People are battling hunger daily and failing to provide a sufficient amount of food for their families. While we have the luxury of not having to wonder where our next meal will come from, millions of people have to fight for the food they obtain.
According to USDA, food insecurity is the lack of access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. It is evident in every country at some degree. In 2018, approximately 821 million people suffered from hunger; additionally, one in nine people are denied access to a proper amount of food to live productively. Globally, food insecurity is one of the largest risks to health, and we have the power to get involved.
As stated by the United Nations, most people in the world experience moderate levels of food insecurity. When combining those with people who suffer from hunger, over two billion people do not have access to nutritious and sufficient food. This accounts for 8 percent of the population in North America and Europe.
In developed and developing countries, food insecurity is connected to poverty, conflicts, climate change, and global inequalities. In order to make families food secure, they must be able to purchase food that is beneficial to their health. High costs and low affordability does not grant people the necessary access to food. We must act on this issue now as it is wrong for a large population to be in a constant fear of hunger and malnutrition.
The World Health Organization established three aspects of food insecurity: availability, access, and utilization. Food availability causes people to obtain food consistently and maintain stable eating habits. Having access to food means being able to acquire clean and healthy meals. Food utilization represents consuming a nutritious diet.
Food Insecurity Worldwide
In the United States, an estimated 50 million people experience low or very low food security; within that number, 13 million are children. Due to families’ inability to provide enough food for their children, they depend on schools to feed them. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, children are not enrolled in school and are not able to maintain a steady food intake.
Yemen’s humanitarian crisis has led to over 20 million civilians without the proper amount of food. The child malnutrition rates in the country are one of the highest in the world; two million children in Yemen need treatment for acute malnutrition.
Families across Syria are enduring levels of poverty and food insecurity that are only rising. 9.3 million Syrians are food insecure as a result of the conflicts within the region. Through a World Food Programme survey, it is proven that families are cutting down from three meals per day to two; Syrians are slowly becoming incapable of setting a healthy eating schedule.
India battles food insecurity with 15.1% of the world’s undernourished population. India also has extreme levels of poverty, as 21.25% of Indians earn less than $1.90 USD per day; therefore, it is difficult for civilians to afford enough food.
Activate Change
Food insecurity is a large threat that is evident everywhere. We can no longer wait and see how this crisis plays out. Taking action is imperative, and we must do so immediately. Helpless people are depending on you to better the current state of the world. You have countless resources at your fingertips, and you cannot let those go to waste.
- Educate others on the effects of a balanced diet. This will not only improve food utilization, but will guide people towards better eating habits.
- Donate to organizations or your local food bank. Some organizations include Feeding America, Action Against Hunger, and the Hunger Project.
- Start your own drive! Collect food from your peers and partner with organizations to reach people on a broader scale.
- Volunteer at food banks, food pantries, or organizations that promote food security worldwide.
- Look into the sources of food insecurity. Afterwards, work towards alleviating those causes.
- Reach out to lawmakers and elected officials and ask about their efforts regarding food shortages.
- Set up a community garden to produce more food for those in need.
People live with the constant fear of hunger. While most of us are unaware of how threatening this issue is, we must seek knowledge and stay informed. It is imperative that we work towards lowering the increasing numbers of food shortages. By using our voices and advocating for change, food security will grab the attention of world leaders.
Cordially,
Nika Tarkian