Hunger is attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and many other countries around the globe. The United Nations World Food Programme releases a weekly report called Global Hunger Hotspots highlighting numerous countries struggling against food insecurity.
In Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been distributing aid as part of its "High Food Price Mitigation intervention" plan. Hunger and poverty have long been a crisis in Afghanistan, with years of conflict and natural disasters causing heavy strain on the Afghan people. The recent food price surge has made even more Afghans vulnerable. Rick Corsino, World Food Programme director for Afghanistan, recently spoke about the high prices and their effect on funding operations like school feeding. Fighting in parts of the country, as well as flooding, have displaced Afghans and increased the need for emergency food aid.
The young Afghan democracy is facing many severe tests. Food is a crucial ingredient for the fledgling government to survive. Support for the World Food Programme, World Vision, and other charities operating in Afghanistan is critical.
In Iraq, there are millions of people displaced by the war and in need of aid. The World Food Programme announced it has now reached 470,000 Iraqis displaced within their own country. But many challenges remain in helping the Iraqi government deliver food to its citizens via the Public Distribution System. Displaced Iraqis have been unable to access their rations due to the government's inability to transfer the necessary paperwork.
According to WFP, the Public Distribution System "continues to face difficulty in reaching all corners of the country in a timely fashion with a complete food ration." In fact, a WFP report stated that the food basket for Iraqis under the Public Distribution System is shrinking in 2008 "from ten items to five due to a lack of financial support and increasing international food, shipping and transport prices."
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