Hunger crises need our help

Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal with Ukraine is the latest blow to the world’s hungry. This alarming news comes after the new United Nations report showing 122 million more people are facing hunger worldwide since 2019.

With hunger worsening, everyone needs to take action from world leaders to citizens. Russia must rejoin the grain deal, which allowed food from Ukraine to be safely shipped to countries that depend on it. Ukraine’s massive supply of grain has been at risk since Russia’s brutal invasion began last year.

With so many nations in severe hunger emergencies, we cannot afford to be losing food supplies. This year’s United Nations State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed around 735 million people are currently facing hunger, compared with 613 million in 2019. Conflicts, drought caused by climate change, the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and high food prices have all put more people into the pit of hunger.

But what’s making it worse is the lack of resources to combat hunger. Just recently, the U.N. World Food Program, or WFP, announced reductions in food aid to West Africa, Haiti and refugees in the Middle East because of low funding. WFP depends on voluntary donations from governments and the public.

I urge readers to tell Congress to support funding increases for global food aid. Host a hunger relief event to educate and encourage others to join you.

You can also urge Congress to support the Farm Bill and reauthorize the Food for Peace program, which feeds the hungry and promotes peace. A critical aspect of Food for Peace is funding the peanut paste Plumpy’Nut that saves children from deadly malnutrition. Reauthorization of the Farm Bill should also include the McGovern-Dole program that provides school meals in impoverished countries.

The only path to a world at peace is by defeating hunger, and each of us can lead in making this noble cause happen.