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| When most of us think of hunger, we think of famine - the sudden shortages of food that make the headlines. These are often caused by war, drought or natural disasters. But, in fact, less than 10 percent of hunger deaths are due to famine. More commonly, hunger is a chronic condition of insufficient food. People experience chronic hunger because they cannot produce enough food or do not earn enough to buy the food they need. |
| Poverty is the principal cause of chronic hunger. When people fall into poverty and have no way to support their families, their focus turns to survival-procuring food and water for the day. This leaves no time or energy for education and skill building-the means to earning an income, which would alleviate the hunger. It is a tragic and vicious cycle, and the reason why simply providing people with food is not enough; we have to help people find ways to support themselves for the long term. |
| Gender inequality is a leading cause of poverty that leads to hunger. When women and girls are denied equal access to education, new technologies, the means of production or financial resources, they and their children are the first to suffer from poverty and malnutrition. |
| The effects of chronic hunger on health are devastating, and children suffer the most. Hunger weakens their immunity so that preventable diseases and infections, such as measles, diarrhea and malaria, are life threatening and often result in death. It stunts their growth and permanently disables them for the rest of their lives. |
| Hunger is an enormous waste of human potential. It prevents adults from being able to work, and children from being able to concentrate and learn in school. The creative and productive contributions of millions are lost to hunger every day. |
| But it doesn't have to be this way. Though world hunger remains a daunting problem, it is a problem that can be resolved. We have at our disposal solutions to hunger that are proven, practical, cost effective and available. We can wipe out hunger in our lifetime, but only if we make a commitment to do so. |
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