Congress must increase global food aid

In the next coronavirus relief bill, Congress must increase food aid to combat a global hunger crisis that is worsening during this pandemic. Bread for the World is urging Congress "to expand health and humanitarian programs, strengthen the global food supply chain and social protection programs, and allow U.S. funded school feeding programs around the world to serve children while schools are closed.”

War and climate change have caused many countries to suffer hunger emergencies. The civil war in Yemen has already placed that country on the brink of famine. Drought caused by climate change in Southern Africa has led to severe food shortages. The coronavirus will only deepen the humanitarian crisis in these and other areas.

The UN World Food Program director, David Beasley, warns "with COVID-19, I want to stress that we are not only facing a global health pandemic but also a global humanitarian catastrophe. Millions of civilians living in conflictscarred nations, including many women and children, face being pushed to the brink of starvation, with the spectre of famine a very real and dangerous possibility. "

We know how devastating the coronavirus is to our country. But think about how developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are going to deal with this virus. These countries have poor health systems and are suffering from extreme hunger, poverty and other diseases. Breaks in the food pipeline because of the virus will be devastating. We need to be increasing health and food assistance globally. The Congress can do this in the next coronavirus relief legislation which is being negotiated.

Syria, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, South Sudan and many others are not going to be able to handle this crisis without massive interventions.

The World Food Program, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services and many others will need more funding. Our global Food for Peace program must be expanded.

Infants will need life-saving food such as Plumpy’Nut to prevent malnutrition. We should expand the USDA McGovern-Dole program that feeds school children in impoverished countries. McGovern-Dole school meals are being heroically delivered to homes by CRS in Sierra Leone and other countries during the coronavirus outbreak as schools are closed. But many more children need help.

We should increase McGovern-Dole funding to feed more kids around the globe during the pandemic.

The Congress must increase global food aid in the next coronavirus relief bill to avert a hunger tragedy.