Here in North America, people spend roughly 10 to 20 per cent of their income on food. Generally, that makes higher grocery bills a minor annoyance.

But in the developing world food can account for up to 80 per cent of a family’s budget. The repercussions of rising costs are severe. In an effort fend off hunger, families in poor countries are forced to take drastic measures and make costly sacrifices, including:

• Pulling children out of school
• Forcing children into work (sometimes in dangerous conditions)
• Discontinuing visits to health clinics or eliminating medication purchases
• Selling off assets; first livestock, then farming equipment and tools

Some of the more broad-ranging effects include:

• Increasing social unrest, rioting and displacement of peoples
• Stunted intellectual and physical development of both children and adults
• 35 million children at increased risk of malnutrition; 10 million of these are under five-years-old
• Children face neglect and vulnerability while parents search for work and food
• Short and long-term effects of a downturn in the economy as food takes a larger portion of overall spending

A Haitian Mother’s Struggle
This story from Haiti demonstrates how the food crisis is affecting children and families and how World Vision is working to help fight this disaster. 

"He just started crying," recalls Jonise Siméuse, describing the death of her 9-month-old son, Claudeson. "He passed away in my arms…my heart broke when he died."

Grief-stricken, the young Haitian mom immediately feared the worst for Claudeson's twin brother, Peterson.

Haiti has long suffered hunger's ravages. Now, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere is teetering on the breaking point.

World Vision's development programs work with families and communities to establish stable food sources.

Little Peterson could tragically have become another of hunger's statistics. But Jonise sought help for her ailing son at a World Vision health post. A World Vision health worker then followed up with Jonise at her home and helped her enroll in a mother’s club, where moms with malnourished children below the age of two learn about proper nutrition.

Jonise describes what happened when she enrolled in the club: "The ladies in the center came to my house and showed me varieties of food that I could feed Peterson, and how to cook it. I gave him a lot of green leaves and manioc [a starchy root crop similar to cassava]."

Jonise also continues to receive monthly food aid distributions.

Sitting in her lap, baby Peterson, now a plump 1-year-old, eagerly eats spoonfuls of porridge. He is a happy and healthy baby because of his mother and the help of World Vision.

Help Combat the Crisis
Click here to learn more about this issue and what you can do to help.

Donate now to help provide food aid to families in need and help communities improve their food production.