Hunger Target: Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
In Afghanistan each year, 283,000 children under the age of five die. Bismillah is one of the lucky ones. Suffering malnourishment and pneumonia, she was brought in time to a clinic where she’s on her way to recovery.
One in five people in the developing world are suffering from chronic malnutrition: an estimated 800 million. Every year nearly 11 million children die before their fifth birthday as a direct consequence of nutritional deficiency – almost the same as the number of children under 15 in the UK.
Malnutrition can lead to a vast range of problems, including blindness, rickets and birth complications. It also weakens the immune system, making sufferers far more susceptible to disease. If a woman is malnourished during pregnancy, or if her child is malnourished during the first two years of life, the child’s physical and mental growth and development may be slowed down. This cannot be made up when the child is older – it will affect them for the rest of their life.
It’s amazing to consider that while almost a third of food bought in the UK ends up in the bin, there are still so many living without enough to eat. The first Millennium Development Goal sets out a target to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Although some progress has been made, much more needs to be done if this target is going to be reached by 2015.
The good news is that work is being done to combat hunger. For example, the Evangelical Bible Church of Malawi, a Tearfund partner, has an agricultural project that teaches farmers improved agricultural techniques so that they can grow more food. They learn about re-forestation, water conservation and how to improve soil fertility.
This is just one example of the kind of projects run by a wide variety of churches and organisations. This month in ‘Micah Action’ there is a creative way to support projects which make a difference to those living with hunger. Pray, act, pass on the message and invite someone else to do the same.
Dear Lord
Thank you that You are the provider of all good things. Please forgive us for the times that we have wasted Your provision while others go without.
Give us Your love for our brothers and sisters around the world who do not have enough to eat. Help us to understand the reality of going to bed hungry or not being able to feed your family.
Please give wisdom and guidance to those who are responding to short-term needs and developing long-term nutrition programmes.
We pray that churches, communities, governments and global institutions would work together to bring consistent access to good food for the most vulnerable people.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
Take a day this month to fast. It could be for a meal or two, or even for the whole day. Calculate the money that you have saved and give it to an organisation that works with people who are living with hunger. Let fasting remind you of the daily reality of hunger for millions worldwide.
You might consider making this an ongoing part of your lifestyle, setting aside a day every month to fast and give away the money saved.
Mark a day in your diary to fast this month
But It’s True
Share this short video from coalition member Compassion with a friend. Spread the message that hunger isn’t fair.
Five simple actions. One big impact.
Ask someone to join you in taking five so that together we can make a difference.
