Canada is playing an important role in food assistance and kids can make a difference, too
The next time your mom or dad tells you to eat your vegetables because there are people hungry around the world, you might not want to dismiss them.
They’re right.
According to a new report from the World Food Program, 56 million people in eight regions of the world are in urgent need of food assistance.
All eight regions have one thing in common: they are all zones of conflict.
In some cases, aid workers — peaceful citizens from international organizations who try to help — are being met with violence, the report says, which prevents them from distributing food.
“More than 821 million people go to bed hungry every single night,” said WFP communications officer Julie Marshall.
Out of those, 56 million are in urgent need of assistance due to armed conflict.
Is the situation improving anywhere?
The war in Syria has been going on since 2011 and 5.5 million people are currently hungry.
That’s about one million less than a year ago, because aid workers have been able to help.
“Security considerably improved in many parts of the country,” reads the report.
Thanks to a school feeding program, 600,000 kids who go to school are being fed.
“These school feeding programs are an opportunity for children to get a nutritious meal, which they may not get at home,” Marshall told CBC Kids News.
The food is prepared by displaced women and it comes from local sources — such as bakeries and farmers.
“We’re giving around 200 women employment so that they can support their own families,” said Marshall.
The World Food Program operates in countries like Syria thanks to donations from governments such as Canada.
“Canada is one of our most important donors,” said Marshall.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/56-million-people-are-hungry#article-start