Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RATIONS THAT ARE FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Belfast woman to survive on basic supplies to highlight refugee plight
1,100 and 1,200 calories. Una said: “It’s just over half what a female would be recommended on a daily basis. It’s enough food to survive – not to thrive.
“There’s no fruit and veg, there’s no fibre, there’s no dairy.
“You can see that deficiencies would come after a while.
“On top of all this, if you could imagine, you’ve had to flee your home to survive – all that anxiety, all that anguish and that’s when you really need the recommended nutricious food and it’s not there.” She is hoping that through taking on the ration challenge she can raise some much-needed awareness of what refugees are suffering in “a situation not asked for”.
Una said: “Mothers, fathers, children didn’t ask to have to flee their home.”
More than one in every 100 people on earth has been displaced by conflict or disaster.
Many refugees live in cramped and overcrowded conditions, with limited access to food, healthcare or basic sanitation, putting them at greater risk of infection and Covid-19 could have even more devastating consequences.
Last year 4,000 people across the UK took part in Concern’s first ration challenge, raising almost £1million to provide emergency food, hygiene kits and life-saving support to refugee communities.
From September 13 to 16 this year, participants will endeavour to raise awareness and compassion of what refugees are experiencing and seek sponsorship from friends and family.
The money will go towards helping tackle hunger and extreme poverty for the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest places.
If you would like to do your bit for refugees you can sign up to the Concern Worldwide Ration Challenge at www.rationchallenge.org.uk.