GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
Emergency Alert - Updated October 22, 2008
You can help
our local partners
provide needed assistance.
|
Background:
The cost of food worldwide has risen sharply and quickly in recent months, putting millions at risk of acute hunger. In some places the cost of basic staples like rice and cooking oil has more than doubled in less than six months. With an estimated 1 billion people living on less than $1 a day (according to the United Nations World Food Programme), this crisis is lethal to the world’s poorest nations.
On April 29th the UN sponsored a summit on the food crisis in Rome. General Secretary Ban-Ki Moon addressed world leaders, outlining that world food production must increase by at least 50% by 2030 to meet the needs of the world population. In the shorter term, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is calling for $1.7 billion dollars in emergency funding to address food production shortages.
The root causes of this crisis include: rising demand as a result of economic growth in emerging countries, the production of bio-fuel crops, and increasing climactic events such as droughts and floods. The crisis has revealed a new kind of hunger, one fueled by both food shortages and lack of money to buy food. Currently, the rural of the world’s poorest countries are most severely affected.
| LWR AND PARTNERS ARE HELPING |
LWR’s programs focus on eliminating the root causes of hunger and poverty, making people self-sufficient and less vulnerable to price shocks. By addressing long-term food security, we enable communities to withstand price fluctuations. In situations of dire need, we may also include immediate food aid along with long-term programming to enhance food security.
We do this by:
- Working with farmers to increase crop yields through improved agricultural practices
- Introducing disease resistant crops
- Training communities to better manage their natural resources
- Ensuring access to clean water for both household use and crop irrigation
The best way to assist people caught in an emergency is to give cash so that our partner staff on the ground can be most effective.
To contribute online, click below. You will be given the opportunity to choose “Global Food Crisis ” for your contribution.
Your gift will be used to respond to the “Global Food Crisis ” until needs there are met. After that, further gifts will be used to help LWR respond where the need is greatest. Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.
During regular business hours, Monday through Friday, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2, or mail a check or money order to:
Lutheran World Relief -
Global Food Crisis
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
USA
MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802 (office), 443-220-3269 (cell), esollie@lwr.org
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility. LWR is a member of Action by Churches Together.
