The hunger emergency in South Sudan is described as “frightening” by Oxfam‘s country director Zlatko Gegic. There are already 3.8 million people suffering from severe hunger in the conflict-torn nation.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Internet experts continue to help Nepal food aid
Last week at The Huffington Post I wrote about how the internet plays such a major role in feeding the hungry during emergencies. The technical experts of the World Food Programme in Nepal are a great example. They are the ones that restore internet service so all humanitarian agencies can better coordinate food aid deliveries.
Communication is essential in times of crisis. Here is the latest on how the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) is doing in Nepal. According to the UN, “Over 1133 humanitarians from more than 140 different response organizations are now using internet services provided by the cluster.”
The ETC team just linked to two Save the Children offices to expand this service. In total, “The cluster is providing shared internet services for the response community at 14 sites across Kathmandu, Deurali, Gorkha, Charikot, Chautara, Bidur, Lalitpur, Dhunche and Arughat.”
They are a great example of the behind-the-scenes work that is needed to feed the hungry. What is especially important to note, is that funding is required to keep this integral program in motion.
WFP relies entirely on voluntary contributions to provide food aid and supporting services like ETC. Nepal’s food needs are very high right now in the aftermath of the earthquakes. WFP has set up a donation page for Nepal.
Read the full update at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Food security deteriorating in Nepal quake areas
The United Nations is reporting that hunger is quickly escalating in areas affected by Nepal‘s earthquakes
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Ukraine: hunger relief mission to increase
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says it will be increasing the size of its relief mission in the Ukraine. Hunger continues to escalate there because of the conflict between the government and pro-Russian rebels.
Read the article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Boko Haram causing a hunger crisis
Boko Haram violence has displaced thousands in northeast Nigeria. It has also spilled over into other countries, causing a hunger crisis in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is trying to provide aid for thousands displaced by the terrorist group. The Far North Region of Cameroon, for example, is having to take in many conflict victims. Yet this region is one of the poorest in the world. The host communities need assistance themselves.
These affected areas of West Africa are also in the lean season, when food supplies are already low. Malnutrition rates are high.
WFP says the situation is urgent. Denise Brown, the WFP director for West Africa explains,
Women displaced by conflict have lost their husbands, walked for days to safety and rely on the support of already vulnerable communities. The lean season is upon us, and as local granaries are emptying, women tell of their families going hungry.”
Tragically, WFP is not able to provide food aid to all the victims due to funding shortages. Less than half of the people WFP planned to feed have received the food. Others have received reduced rations.
WFP requires around $ US 74.8 million to reach the hungry. The plan is to feed around 395,900 persons affected by the violence.
WFP is urging the international community to step up support for the emergency mission. The UN food agency relies entirely on voluntary donations.
Read more at Examiner.
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Tears Tell Story of Syria’s War Victims
Nahed, a Syrian mother, once had a good life. She was a school teacher in Rural Damascus. It was a middle-class living that could provide for her family. But all that changed when the civil war came to her country.
The fighting between the government and rebel groups forced Nahed and her family to flee their home.
Read the full article at The Huffington Post.
Filed under global hunger
Elite athletes to help WFP bring food aid in Nepal
Last week on the Huffington Post I wrote about an amazing group of women who are helping earthquake victims in Nepal. These are members of the Seven Summits Women Team of mountain climbers.
This is an elite group of the world’s best climbers. Now they are going to be teaming up with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the largest agency fighting hunger.
WFP is leading the hunger relief mission in Nepal. There are 3.5 million people who need food aid in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Reaching those in need is difficult because of the mountainous terrain, landslides and the damage to roads caused by the quake. WFP put out a request for mountain climbers, porters and even pack animals to help them deliver food to remote, hard to reach villages.
According to the Seven Summits Women team, climbers Nimdoma Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa, Chunu Shrestha, and Asha Kumari Singh will be joining WFP. The Seven Summits team has been involved in earthquake relief from the very start of the emergency. Nimdoma Sherpa, who at age 17 scaled Mount Everest, just completed a two day journey with 2 hours sleep to reach a village with supplies.
With monsoon season approaching, it’s a race against time to get food supplies into these areas. WFP is providing rice, high energy biscuits and other foods. Small children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition following a disaster. WFP is committed to getting special nutritional foods, like the peanut paste Plumpy’Sup, to children in need.
Relying entirely on voluntary donations, WFP has also issued an urgent request for funds. The emergency relief of Nepal will cost at least US $116 million. Food to help reconstruction will require even more funding. So there is a tremendous need for donations.
Both WFP and the Seven Summits Women Team have pages where you can donate.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
U.S. military on a mission to help Nepal
The tragic crash of a U.S. military helicopter, which was carrying six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers, was part of a humanitarian operation to help earthquake victims. It’s called Operation Sahayogi Haat, which means “Helping Hand” in Nepali.
Last month’s earthquake has left millions in Nepal in need of food, water, shelter and medicine. The United States military has been called upon to support the relief effort.
Marines from Joint Task Force 505 of the U.S. Pacific Command have been taking part in the mission. The Defense Department reported earlier this week,
U.S. Marine Huey and Osprey aircraft delivered 174,706 pounds of emergency relief supplies since Operation Sahayogi Haat began. The supplies included plastic sheeting, shelter kits, blankets, food, water and medical materials.”
The U.S. military has been working with Nepal’s government, USAID, the World Food Programme and others to deliver life-saving aid. More quakes have struck Nepal this month leaving many others in need of help.
The mission is one of great danger as revealed when the U.S military helicopter went down earlier this week in a remote, mountainous region. U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. John E. Wissler says the soldiers lost in the crash “were determined to go forward with their duties, eager to contribute to our mission to alleviate suffering and come to the rescue of those in need.” He added, “The United States military will remain committed to our mission here in Nepal.”
The suffering people of Nepal can count on that support. The U.S. military has a long tradition of providing humanitarian aid, including massive operations during and after World War I and II which fed millions.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
When the Internet Saves Lives
Imagine if you lost your internet service. Picture having no email capability or access to net-based information for days, even weeks. Yikes! How would the loss of the internet affect your daily work?
But now let’s thicken the plot. Imagine if your job was the emergency feeding of millions of people following a natural disaster. You would need to organize and communicate quickly and effectively with others. At this point, internet is far more than just a luxury or convenience. Lives depend on it.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP), the largest hunger relief organization, makes internet connectivity a top priority when disaster strikes. Basic internet, that many of us take for granted, is often damaged or not available in afflicted, impoverished areas.
Read the full article at The Huffington Post.
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Nepal: how runners, walkers can help today
Reunited, the family is trying to recover from the shock of April 25th disaster that killed more than 8,000 people and injured an estimated 16,000. Like thousands of survivors across the country, Sangmaya and her family need food to survive and rebuild.
They are getting this aid from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The rice represents more than lifesaving nutrition. Each spoonful represents hope and strength for a better tomorrow.
Read the full article at Examiner.
Filed under global hunger
Author William Lambers 