In the last couple of months, a worrying global phenomenon has been emerging as reports of food scarcity, rising prices and the declining nutrition situation of vulnerable populations become commonplace.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has described this phenomenon as a 'silent tsunami' threatening to plunge more than 100 million people on every continent into hunger whilst the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that one billion people in Asia will be seriously affected by the surging food prices.
For example, rising food prices could lead to:
- Deterioration of the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and of preschool children
- The withdrawal of children especially girls from school
- The distress sale of productive assets.
- Compromising the future ability of individuals and households to escape poverty.
Although the current situation poses policy challenges on several fronts, there are effective actions that can be taken by countries to help the most vulnerable people in the short term while working to stabilize food prices by increasing agricultural production in the long term:
What is it that we as individuals can do?
Firstly it is to realise that there is a problem. Elsewhere, countries have set up food banks and are talking about improving agriculture and trade. Many people are considering a change in diet and lifestyle. People should be conscious about wasting food or overeating and be aware of their consumption habits. Where there is excess food, we should consider giving this away to those in need. Often it is the silent needy who are most vulnerable and these people need to be sought out.
We may still be a long way off from the food-related riots that have gripped other parts of the world, but we are soon likely to see the need for food aid distribution spread more widely among our people.
(The writer is Country Director, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka)
Muslim Aid Sri Lanka (MASL), in association with the World Health Organisation, AmeriCares, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA), has organized a "Walk 2 Feed" to raise awareness of the global food crisis.
The walk will be held on Sunday, September 14 at 4 pm starting at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre.
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