Malnutrition
The Food and Agriculture of the United Nations most recent report from 2008 indicates 850 million people are undernourished in the world. This number represents 13% of the people on Earth. Malnutrition in children is a very serious problem that can stunt children’s growth, weaken their immune system, and cause their brain to develop abnormally.
The website for the Food and Agricultural Organization has a feature where you have access to a drop down menu and an interactive hunger map; when you select a country the percentage of those suffering from malnutrition epidemic is displayed. The website is as follows: http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/.
After reviewing several countries, I chose to do some research on Haiti which is very close to Florida where I live. The total population of Haiti is 9.7 million. Of that total, 5.5 million, or 57% are malnourished. This number is alarmingly high and it is from 2008. Since then Haiti has been devastated by a hurricane and earthquake. I found another website, www.wfp.org. This is the page for the World Food Programme. They listed the following information regarding Haiti:
Poverty, malnutrition, high food prices, hurricanes and now an earthquake. Here are ten facts that give the measure of the hunger crisis facing Haiti, a nation which was already struggling to feed itself even before the earthquake.
- Assessments show that 3 million people may need humanitarian relief, including food assistance, in the wake of the earthquake.
- Even before the quake, 1.9 million people were ‘food insecure’, meaning they needed assistance to stave off hunger.
- Only 50 percent of Haiti population has access to safe drinking water.
- Some 55 percent of Haiti’s 9 million people live below the poverty line of US$1 a day.
- Rural households spend almost 60 percent of their income on food; the poorest groups spend more than 70 percent.
- Chronic malnutrition affects 24 percent of children under five, rising as high as 40 percent in the poorest zones.
- Poor diet means many women and children suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Anemia affects 59 percent of children between the ages of six months and 5 years.
- During 2008, high food and fuel prices triggered violent demonstrations and political upheaval.
- In the same year, three hurricanes and one tropical storm struck Haiti, killing 800 people, destroying 27,000 homes and raising the general level of hunger.
- Food prices have declined since September 2008, but remain higher than the four-year average.
This county is suffering and children are not developing the way they should. Every child should have the opportunity to experience a healthy development. This information has really touched my heart and I will dedicate time to fight for providing these countries with food. I run a Christian preschool and we are always trying to do things to help people. Each year I will make it a goal to collect food and money in support of these countries.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThose are startling statistics, with more than half of the country in need of help with food! I am always saddened by the commercials showing the children who are starving. I was also very surprised by the poverty line being one US dollar and that 55% of the population live below that! We are so lucky to live where we do and to partake in the abundant food resources that we have available to us.
Our Sunday school program at church collects money and makes a donation through World Vision. In 2009, our High 5 children’s program, which consisted of about 15 children in K-5, collected around one hundred dollars and had a fun time selecting items to donate to the needy children. The boys selected soccer balls, the girls chose backpacks of school supplies, and then we all chose ducks to help with feeding a family. I’m sure you’ve heard of it and it’s a great organization!