World Hunger Day- History, Significance, Theme
We celebrate World Hunger Day on May 28 across the globe. It became known as an International Day in 2011 and the main objective behind celebrating this day is to raise awareness of extreme hunger globally and how more than 800 million people are still facing hunger and extreme poverty.
This day is for raising awareness and also seeking to address the issues of hunger and poverty and save lives through sustainable actions.
World Hunger Day History
International Hunger Day was first launched by The Human Project. This international organization established the day with a commitment to resolve global hunger and poverty through tenable solutions.
It is a non-profit organization that came into existence in 1977. It consists of heads of state, business executives, and experts in social justice and women’s rights from various parts of the globe.
International Hunger Day Importance
It is no secret that almost 690 million people worldwide live in chronic hunger with 60% of them being women. Almost 98% of them, who are battling malnourishment are from middle and low-income countries. What’s more troubling is that hunger kills more people globally than many deadly diseases that we know like malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined.
This is the day to address the disparity and help find solutions that can eradicate hunger and poverty completely from the earth rather than just providing a day of food to the hungry.
Some facts and figures related to World Hunger
- The world produces enough food to feed all of its 8 billion people, yet 828 million people go hungry every day
- Of those 828 million, the World Food Program estimates that over 40% are facing acute levels of hunger
- 2.3 billion people — 29.6% of the global population — don’t have adequate access to food
- 9 million people die from hunger-related causes every year; many are children under the age of 5
- Hunger hits children especially hard: 45 million children under the age of five suffer from wasting
- 149 million children under the age of five are affected by stunting
- In 2022, the number of people facing acute hunger increased by 25% in just three months due to the conflict in Ukraine
- Even if we rebound from the economic fallout of the pandemic, the UN predicts that we’ll fall well short of our goal of Zero Hunger by 2030. At the end of this decade, it is estimated there will still be 670 million people facing hunger.
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What is the theme for 2024 World Hunger Day?
This year’s theme for World Hunger Day is Thriving Mothers. Thriving World. So, how did this theme come about?
More than a billion adolescent girls and women still suffer from malnutrition today. This is one of the biggest factors in the cycle of chronic hunger. The damaging effects are passed down from mother to child. It is not unknown that malnourished mothers give birth to malnourished babies. The young ones will then suffer irreversible damage to their brain development and future.
What is the problem?
In many parts of the world, girls are often fed last and also least. A mother normally eats only after the rest of her family is well-fed. In many Asian and African households, girls are married at a very young age, and that too before their bodies are fully developed.
They start having kids early and their malnourishment is transferred to their babies. Improper nutrition during the initial 1,000 days can be so damaging that it can cause serious physical and mental health harm to the babies, including inhibiting cognitive development.
What can be the solution to this?
The first thing to do is to ensure that mothers have proper access to information and nutritious diets for themselves and their babies. This is the most effective way to break the cycle of malnutrition.
- Education about nutrition: First of all, educate on maternal and childhood health. It is essential to conduct training workshops for women in which healthcare professionals explain the basic nutrition for mothers and kids and the importance of pre and postnatal care.
- Monitor maternal and childhood health: Women can monitor their and their babies’ health by consulting trained healthcare workers.
- Providing training on sustainable farming practices: It is important to teach women to learn about sustainable farming ideas and to diversify crops and create nutritional diets.
How can you celebrate this year’s World Hunger Day?
On May 28, 2024, many people, organizations, and governments will come together to acknowledge challenges and celebrate the progress in the united fight against hunger globally.
Participating in World Hunger Day will make you understand more deeply the pain of those affected by hunger. Here are some ways in which you can participate in this global movement:
1. Educate yourself and your loved ones
The first step is to understand the issue and why it is such a big deal. You can spend some time learning about the cause of hunger, the part of the world where it exists the most, and the impact of food insecurity on communities.
You can share this knowledge with your family, friends, and social media.
2. Support hunger relief organizations
If you want to help the poverty-stricken, you can show your support by donating some money to relief organizations like Convoy of Hope so that they can implement programs that encourage individuals in developing countries.
3. Talk about it on social media
Social media is such a powerful tool to make your voice heard. You can utilize the Social Media Toolkit provided by The Hunger Project to share information, stories, and data about world hunger on giants like Facebook, X, and Instagram.
4. Challenge yourself
One unique way in which you can show your solidarity is by going a week without sugar or some other noncritical part of your diet. That proves that you can empathize with the struggle of millions of those who lack access to a nutritious diet.
This not only raises awareness but also shows a glimpse into the difficulties faced by those who struggle with food insecurity daily.
5. Volunteer
You can lend a helping hand by looking for volunteer opportunities in your community that focus on hunger relief. It could either be helping at a local food bank, participating in food drives, or volunteering for organizations that distribute food to the needy ones.
6. Advocate for policy changes
You can raise your voice for policies that address the root causes of hunger and support food security. This can be: writing to your local gov. body, participating in hunger campaigns, and being a part of advocacy groups that work towards ending world hunger.
7. Reduce food wastage
One of the simplest yet most impactful actions that you can do is to reduce the wastage of your food. For this, you can plan your meals, save leftovers, and compost food scraps. What many don’t realize is that by being mindful of your food consumption, you contribute more to a sustainable food system.
8. Adopt sustainable eating habits
Eat a sustainable diet by consuming less meat, eating a more vegetarian diet, and choosing products that are sustainably sourced. These habits can reduce your environmental footprint and contribute to global food security.
Factors contributing to Global Hunger Crisis
Factors like conflicts, climate change, and economic stability exacerbate the hunger crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened food insecurity, affecting millions of people’s ability to have access to enough sufficient and nutritious food.
What is the United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals’ role?
The UN has presented the Sustainable Development Goals of ending hunger by 2030.
While this can be a challenging thing to do, it can be achieved by a concerted effort to improve food systems, enhance food production, and ensure equitable food distribution.
Achieving this goal is important for the health and well-being of millions of adults and children who are still living in poverty.
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