From its establishment with the UN GA resolution A/RES/35/70, World Food Day is observed annually on October 16th, to increase awareness about hunger, food insecurity, and the critical role that sustainable food systems play in the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) created World Food Day in 1979. Leading global initiatives to end hunger and enhance nutrition is the FAO’s mandate.
This year’s focus is “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” which highlights everyone’s essential right to sufficient, secure, and nourishing food. World Food Day also highlights the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to end hunger, guarantee food security, and advance sustainable agriculture by 2030. You can learn more about the commitment to SDG 2 on the official UN SDG page.
Escalating Food Crises: Urgent Hunger Hotspots in Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan
The global food crisis continues to worsen due to economic instability, violence, and climate change, with over 2.33 billion people facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023 (WHO). Food insecurity, caused by a lack of access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, hinders growth and health. The situation is particularly dire in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. In Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan, millions suffer from severe food insecurity driven by conflict, climate threats, and unstable economies, affecting about 3.4 million in Somalia (World Food Programme), 17 million in Yemen (World Bank), and 25.6 million in Sudan (UNICEF). Sustainable, humanitarian solutions are urgently needed.
The Hidden Costs of Hunger: How Food Insecurity Threatens Our Future
Food insecurity is a complex issue with far-reaching effects. Lack of regular access to food leads to stunted growth and limits the ability to live active, productive lives. Hunger fuels a cycle of poverty, hindering social stability, economic opportunity, and education.
Additionally, the environmental impact of unsustainable agricultural practices exacerbates the food crisis. Climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss all contribute to food production challenges. As FAO Director-General QU Dongyu states, “Transforming agrifood systems is more critical than ever.” A holistic strategy is needed to address these issues, including guaranteeing fair food distribution, encouraging sustainable farming practices, and reducing food waste.
MOAS on World Food Day
MOAS fully supports the aim of the UN GA resolution on the observance of the World Food Day to attract more attention to the right to food, which is a human right. Since its birth in 2014, we have been dedicated to supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities affected by humanitarian crises, starting with search and rescue (SAR) missions in the Mediterranean. Over the years, our efforts have expanded to address food insecurity and malnutrition across different world regions.
In 2019, we launched our #MissionOfHope in Yemen, delivering 250 tonnes of life-saving nutritional aid with the help of our partner organizations Edesia and Medeor. The products, Plumpy’Doz® (a ready-to-use food in paste form for children 6 months and older at risk of acute malnutrition) and Enov’Nutributter (a lipid-based nutrient supplement for children from 6-24 months of age), are distributed by Adra to help the youngest combat malnutrition and stunting.
In 2020, MOAS extended its scope by launching our #MissionOfHope in Somalia to take action against severe acute malnutrition in children. To date, 130 tonnes of Plumpy SupTM – a product treating moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children aged 6 months and above – have been shipped in collaboration with Edesia, with local distribution carried out by International Medical Corps Somalia.
When violent armed clashes erupted in Khartoum, we started to deploy humanitarian missions in Sudan in 2023 to help the local communities who were already suffering from climate change. So far, MOAS – with the help of Edesia Nutrition and Adra – delivered 52 tonnes of nutritional aid to alleviate famine, alongside crucial medical supplies provided by our partners UNHCR and Action Medeor.
Final thoughts
World Food Day 2024 underscores the vital need for global action to ensure the right to food for all, particularly in regions experiencing severe hunger and malnutrition. Organisations like MOAS are crucial in combating food insecurity, delivering life-saving aid, and promoting sustainable solutions in crisis-stricken areas like Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan. As we work towards a world free of hunger, collective efforts to address food inequality and sustainability will shape a better life and a brighter future for generations to come.
Your support can make a difference. Please consider donating to help us continue our missions and save lives. Visit www.moas.eu/donate to contribute. For more updates on our work, follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, or contact us at [email protected].
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.