Global Hunger Crisis

The current food crisis is an extremely complex issue. Designed to briefly highlight a few significant factors, this guide gives a general understanding of the problem in six minutes or less.

Minute 1: What is the Problem?
The cost of food has skyrocketed in an alarmingly short period.

The UN food index, a measure of the cost of food, is up more than 45 per cent since 2006.
Wheat prices have risen by more than 100 per cent in the last year; corn prices, by 66 per cent. The cost of rice has more than doubled since the end of 2007.
To deliver the same amount of food the agency gave out in 2007, the World Food Programme—a key World Vision partner in food distribution—will need to spend an additional $700 million this year.

Minute 2: Who Is Affected?
Families in poor countries spend as much as 75 per cent of their income on food. Therefore, price increases have a devastating effect on these families.

People living on $2 per day have to cut back on nutritious foods such as vegetables just to afford basics such as rice.
People living on $1 per day (more than one billion people worldwide) are forced to eliminate one or two of their daily meals.
People living on $0.50 per day are struggling to eat at all—often eating only a few times per week.

Minute 3: Where is This Crisis Being Felt?
The effects of this crisis can be seen all around the world. Below are just a few areas where the crisis has become apparent.

Haiti: Food riots occur and some citizens are forced to eat biscuits made of mud simply to alleviate hunger pains.
Thailand: Farmers arm themselves to protect their crops from looters.
Sudan: Thieves have ambushed World Food Programme trucks. Since the beginning of this year, two attacks have been fatal.

Minute 4: Why Is This Crisis Happening?
This food crisis is much more than a local famine. The causes are complex, wide ranging and include:

Rising grain prices: Speculators have invested in grains, driving the price of wheat, soybeans, corn and rice to all-time highs.
Low grain reserves: Due to poor harvests over the last several years, government and private wheat reserves are extremely low.
Rising oil prices: Costs for agricultural production, petroleum-based fertilizers and crop transportation have risen steeply.
Demand for ethanol: High prices for this corn-based fuel mean that growing crops for fuel is now more profitable than producing food for people.

Minute 5: How Is World Vision Tackling the Crisis?
While there are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, World Vision is responding with a two-pronged approach that addresses both short- and long-term needs.

In the short-term, the organization continues to provide emergency food aid for millions of people worldwide. World Vision is also lobbying the Canadian government and the international community to keep their commitments to the World Food Programme.
In the long-term, World Vision’s child sponsorship programs promote self-reliance and resilience in communities so children and their families are not dependent on food aid.

Minute 6: How Can I Respond?
Thousands of young Canadians have just recently completed the 30 Hour Famine. Their time and efforts help improve the lives of many. Young Canadians can continue to respond in the following ways:

Raise awareness. Use this article to share information with others.
Raise funds. Do the 30 Hour Famine.