WORLD HUNGER
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ROOT CAUSES
JAMILETH BELLIDO
There are many factors that contribute the root causes of world hunger. Some caused by humans and some that are not under our control. The World Food Programme states in their website article What Causes Hunger that “The world produces enough to feed the entire global population of 7 billion people. And yet, one person in eight on the planet goes to bed hungry each night. In some countries, one child in three is underweight.” the cause for this will be because of the following 5 major reasons. Poverty, crop failure, war and displacement, unstable markets, and food wastage.
People living at the poverty level cannot afford enough food for themselves or their families. Especially in developing countries farmers can't afford to plant crops to harvest their own food and therefore hunger traps them in poverty. Crop failures can be caused by natural disasters that lead to droughts, infestation and floods. Unpredictable weather can also devastate crops that can cause families to be left without food and in starvation. War and displacement is also a factor into contributing the hunger issue when soldiers destroy food and local markets. This forces farmers to abandon their land because of reasons like their access to water like water wells are contaminated or fields are stripped out of their resources when they are mined. Unstable food markets tend to have price increases that result in temporarily putting food out of reach, which can have lasting consequences for small children. When prices rise at the food markets consumers often are forced to buy cheaper, less-nutritious foods, that lead to the risks malnutrition. Food wastage can be considered the biggest factor for why global food security in a world where 1 in 8 is hungry has not improved. Measuring and cutting global food loss and waste is an essential way to advance the fight to eliminate world hunger.
People living at the poverty level cannot afford enough food for themselves or their families. Especially in developing countries farmers can't afford to plant crops to harvest their own food and therefore hunger traps them in poverty. Crop failures can be caused by natural disasters that lead to droughts, infestation and floods. Unpredictable weather can also devastate crops that can cause families to be left without food and in starvation. War and displacement is also a factor into contributing the hunger issue when soldiers destroy food and local markets. This forces farmers to abandon their land because of reasons like their access to water like water wells are contaminated or fields are stripped out of their resources when they are mined. Unstable food markets tend to have price increases that result in temporarily putting food out of reach, which can have lasting consequences for small children. When prices rise at the food markets consumers often are forced to buy cheaper, less-nutritious foods, that lead to the risks malnutrition. Food wastage can be considered the biggest factor for why global food security in a world where 1 in 8 is hungry has not improved. Measuring and cutting global food loss and waste is an essential way to advance the fight to eliminate world hunger.
ESMERALDA IBARRA
War and conflict is a root cause to child hunger because war tend to destroy many land, land where people get their food supply. Conflict is the root cause of war and that’s why both are a root cause to child hunger. As we speak there is a war in Syria, they’re leaving children without food and without homes. Moving food into zones of armed conflict to prevent famine deaths, therefore, became a major goal of humanitarian assistance and famine relief. Unfortunately, much of the food aid intended for noncombatants is hijacked by warring parties, who use control of food aid to reward would-be supporters, starve out opponents, and keep conflict alive.
In many countries and regions, farmers depend entirely on their livestock to keep their family stable. Farmers are unfortunately losing their animals to droughts and diseases that have come about due to climate change. This way of life is becoming more difficult to sustain a living. Many farmers in developing countries depend on rainfall for their crops. In some areas of the world, rainfall has decreased due to climate change, and thus crops have failed. In other regions, climate change has caused the rainy season to change, which means farmers are planting their crops too early or too late and thus missing the most rainfall. Approximately “15 percent” of the world’s population is “dependent on wildlife” in order to survive. For the extremely poor, meat from animals is the main source of protein. When climate change disrupts wildlife, there is an overwhelming impact on those who rely on wildlife. Poverty is the condition of not having enough to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Since children are dependent of others they have no way of providing for themselves. Not having the nutrients that children need at their specific age they are known to have difficulties learning in school. Good nutrition has a link to proper physical growth and development for kids. Children who experience hunger are at risk of not getting the appropriate intake of necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure reaching developmental milestones. A child might be shorter than average height and could be significantly underweight. Some kids succumb to common childhood diseases because “hunger lowers immunity” necessary for illnesses. Kids suffering from hunger often have poorer overall physical health.
In many countries and regions, farmers depend entirely on their livestock to keep their family stable. Farmers are unfortunately losing their animals to droughts and diseases that have come about due to climate change. This way of life is becoming more difficult to sustain a living. Many farmers in developing countries depend on rainfall for their crops. In some areas of the world, rainfall has decreased due to climate change, and thus crops have failed. In other regions, climate change has caused the rainy season to change, which means farmers are planting their crops too early or too late and thus missing the most rainfall. Approximately “15 percent” of the world’s population is “dependent on wildlife” in order to survive. For the extremely poor, meat from animals is the main source of protein. When climate change disrupts wildlife, there is an overwhelming impact on those who rely on wildlife. Poverty is the condition of not having enough to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Since children are dependent of others they have no way of providing for themselves. Not having the nutrients that children need at their specific age they are known to have difficulties learning in school. Good nutrition has a link to proper physical growth and development for kids. Children who experience hunger are at risk of not getting the appropriate intake of necessary vitamins and minerals to ensure reaching developmental milestones. A child might be shorter than average height and could be significantly underweight. Some kids succumb to common childhood diseases because “hunger lowers immunity” necessary for illnesses. Kids suffering from hunger often have poorer overall physical health.