hardship

 

How are women and children affected by hunger?

Hunger can have devastating consequences for women and children, going beyond health and nutrition to include the risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse. The indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are exacerbating these concerns for children and communities who lack safety nets.

BACK TO QUESTIONS

Nour, a single mother of five, faced hunger and a devastating drought that wiped out her livestock and threatened her family’s survival. She decided to leave their community in Toosiley District and embark on a lengthy trek to find food and safety. A lone donkey, provided by neighbors, carried her disabled son and their scant possessions while the family walked hundreds of miles across Somalia. Upon reaching the Dolow District, Nour found relief through a program facilitated by World Vision and its partner, the World Food Programme. The assistance, supplemented with dry food supplies, helped sustain her family for months. With this vital assistance, she also could send a daughter to school. (© 2023 World Vision/photo by Gwayi Patrick)

How is World Vision responding to the hunger crisis?

World Vision remains steadfast in its commitment to serving families experiencing hunger in Africa and around the world. We thank God for the progress that has been achieved as we’ve worked to adapt our programs to current realities.

As of September 2023, we had reached over 25.4 million people, including 14 million children, across 28 countries — including 18 countries in Africa — in our response to the hunger crisis. From October to December 2023 alone, we supported an additional 4.1 million people globally with life-saving food assistance.

For more than 40 years, World Vision has been delivering emergency aid and long-term assistance to families and communities affected by food crises in Africa. Here are some of the ways we help to overcome the root causes of hunger and malnutrition:

• Delivering food assistance, including emergency feeding and cash vouchers
• Diagnosing and treating maternal and child malnutrition
• Ensuring lasting access to clean water and improving sanitation to prevent water-related diseases and support crop irrigation
• Offering training in improved agriculture techniques to support farmers in diversifying livelihoods
• Rehabilitating land to improve harvests

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How does World Vision support resiliency and self-sufficiency in communities?

While life-saving aid is crucial in an emergency, World Vision also prioritizes long-term solutions that build resilience and empower communities to recover from crises independently.

One key aspect of World Vision’s work is livelihood skills training, which equips families with tools they need to navigate a food crisis on their own. Here’s how World Vision is working today to prevent future food and hunger crises:

• Supporting farmers and pastoralists through market development initiatives, livestock immunizations, and training in drought-resistant crop cultivation
• Providing cash aid to help families rebuild and stimulate local economies
• Establishing saving groups and community banks, and offering financial literacy training to assist members in recovering from emergencies and preparing for future shocks
• Installing and repairing water and sanitation facilities to promote health and crop growth
• Offering business training, equipment, and materials to help families diversify their incomes and safeguard their assets from adverse weather conditions
• Providing educational support for children, enabling them to stay in school and acquire skills for a resilient future

BACK TO QUESTIONS

How can I help children and families impacted by the hunger crisis?

• Pray: Join us in praying for children and families affected by the hunger crisis in Africa and around the world.
• Give: Your gift will help provide support such as emergency food aid, agricultural training, access to clean water, healthcare, and more, to vulnerable children and families.
• Sponsor a child: Sponsorship makes a lasting impact as you help equip children, families, and communities with access to life-saving essentials like nutritious food, healthcare, clean water, quality education, and spiritual nurture.

BACK TO QUESTIONS