Shining Li’27, News Staff Writer

(na_service)

When we think about world hunger, we tend to go to the extreme. Our minds go straight to the shocking statistics; 783 million malnourished or starving kids around the world in under-resourced countries (The Hunger Project). The complexity of this multifaceted issue can lead to the absence of action. However, there are actionable steps that each one of us can take, which can go a long way in battling world hunger and starvation. 

First, let’s delve into the basic facts of world hunger. Although eating a few hundred calories less may not heavily impact one’s quality of life, starvation to the extreme is highly detrimental. The National Institute of Health recommends women eat around 2,000 calories a day and men eat around 2,500 calories per day. While dieting and fasting pose an exception to this statistic, food intake less than this per day is considered hunger. 

Food insecurity is more common than one may think. The Food Research and Action Center shows that in America alone, one in eight households experience a lack of access to food. This is the baseline and initial cause of food scarcity and starvation. The root cause of this issue is poverty and the lack of access to money; poverty and world hunger are deeply interconnected topics. 

Furthermore, there are many effects of hunger on health and wellness, some of which may even be fatal. According to Our World in Data, an estimated 128 million people have died globally from 1860 to 2016. That number has only increased within the past few years considering Covid-19. As for the ones that survive, many still face health issues like hyperthyroidism and atypical depression. The statistics show that members of the youth suffer from world hunger the most. Malnourishment is one of the leading causes of childhood death today. UNICEF states that roughly 45% of children under five fatalities are due to starvation. Children are the true victims of poverty and hunger and there is little they can do to help from the inside. 

NA students specifically can contribute to the battle as well. Simply being aware of the amount of food waste that is produced or donating to charities or food pantries can make a huge difference in this timed race against hunger. There are also multiple local food insecurity events weekly; including packaging and sorting foods, collecting donations from local small businesses to bring to food shelters, etc. 

Recent NA events like ‘Rise Against Hunger’ and the “1774 Sandwich Initiative’ all assist those experiencing financial hardship and struggle to get food. “This is truly an important cause which is unfolding in our own backyard. We need at our level to make a difference and help each other” (Leon Sarkissian, founder of the 1774 Sandwich Initiative). Leon makes and packs sandwiches with the help of NA students to deliver to those who are homeless. ‘Rise Against Hunger’ was also another event that combated world hunger. 15,120 meals were packed by NA students. A small action can make a huge difference.

As for reaching others around the world, global organizations like UNICEF and Action Against Hunger proactively provide children with nutrients and food to prevent malnourishment. UNICEF works with partners to improve the quality of food delivered to those fighting food insecurity. There is always something one can do to help no matter the level of service.

World hunger is a crisis that is dangerously fatal and is rapidly worsening. World hunger will only worsen as the wealth gap increases. Whether it be on a local, national, or global scale, there is something that everyone can do to help solve this crisis. There is still hope in finding a solution and saving millions of lives—but only if we act quickly.