Bread for the World Releases 2006 Hunger Report
Bread for The World released its 16th annual hunger report today as a resource for denominations, relief groups and other organizations to place the hunger war into context.
Bread for The World released its 16th annual hunger report today as a resource for denominations, relief groups and other organizations to place the hunger war into context.
Christian and interfaith leaders continue to raise the global poverty issue to push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty by 2015 as promised by the United Nations at the World Summit this year. The hunger report contributes to such efforts to help leaders pinpoint their progress in the battle to end hunger, noted Jennifer Stapleton of Bread for the World.
Hunger 2006 paints the picture of hunger trends across the globe today. Two billion people are in need of more nutrients and while hunger has decreased significantly in the United States in recent decades, food insecurity - the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food - is a continuing problem.
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Abroad, more than half the childhood deaths in developing countries are related to malnutrition. In Africa, more than 300 million people live on less than $1 per day, according to the report.
The U.N. Millennium Project's Hunger Task Force had reported that at least 38 countries were unlikely to achieve the MDG on hunger. However, collaborative efforts and more effective federal programs, rather than just more federal money, would make the MDG within grasp.
Shedding light on the devastating impact brought on by Hurricane Katrina this year, the United States felt an urgency to address the widespread poverty that the nation had been blind to. Bread for the World President David Beckmann dubbed Katrina as an "eye-opener" to the millions who suffer in poverty everyday and who could no longer be ignored.
The report also featured organizations that have been on the frontlines in the hunger battle. Keep the Faith Cupboard feeds over 200 neighbors each month and 30-year-old MANNA has played a large role in doing both Food Stamp outreach and client advocacy to help eligible families receive benefits.
Bread for the World has been an active advocate in supporting policies and pressing hunger issues to the government. Recently, it has played a large role with other interfaith leaders in removing Food Stamps from the budget cut proposal and saving hundreds of thousands of families from losing this staple. Hunger 2006 provides a list of policy recommendations as well as ways individuals can make a difference in reducing poverty.
Available now online at www.bread.org, Hunger 2006 will be available in hard copy version in January.
