The Problem
A perfect storm of crises has reversed decades of progress that saw millions of families lifted out of poverty, and we're now facing a global food crisis of devastating proportions. What caused this perfect storm?
- Severe weather like the drought in the Horn of Africa has interrupted growing seasons.
- Conflicts in countries such as Ethiopia, Haiti, and Burkina Faso have displaced families and prevented food from reaching impoverished communities.
- War has halted Russia and Ukraine's exports of grain and fertilizers, and sanctions on Russia have sent energy prices skyrocketing.
These factors have led to severe inflation, making food staples nearly impossible to afford even if they're available.
Nearly 830 million people will go hungry today. Some will starve to death. But children are the most affected by the crisis. Children are the most affected — kids who don’t have enough to eat grow progressively weaker and suffer stunting that impairs their cognitive development and opportunities for the future. Regions most affected are shown below:
The Sobering Facts
30%
Of the World’s Wheat
30% of the world's wheat and much of its fertilizer were supplied by Russia and Ukraine before the war.
276M
People in Severe Poverty
276 million people are severely food insecure. This number has doubled since before the pandemic.
40M
Children at Risk
40 million children under 5 are at risk of hunger and starvation in the 15 worst-affected countries.