By: Stephanie Jelenic-Deb

It might seem uncommon to worry about where your next meal is coming
from, or if you might go hungry this week, but world hunger is a problem
that many people are faced with everyday.

Did you know that the world produces enough food to feed everyone? World
agriculture produces 17% more calories per person today than it did 30
years ago, despite a 70 percent population increase. This is enough to
provide everyone in the world with at least 2,720 kilocalories per person per
day. So then why do so many people go hungry? The principal problem is
that many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow, or the
income to purchase enough food.

There is a term called malnutrition, which according to the Medline plus
medical encyclopedia, can be defined as a general term that indicates a lack
of some or all-nutritional elements necessary for human health. There are
two basic types of malnutrition. The first and most important is protein-
energy malnutrition-the lack of enough protein and food that provides
energy, measured in calories, which all of the basic food groups provide.
This is the type of malnutrition that is referred to when world hunger is
discussed.  The second type of malnutrition is micronutrient, which is
vitamin and mineral deficiency. This is not the type of malnutrition that is
referred to when world hunger is discussed, but it is still very important.
One in twelve people in this world are malnourished and sadly, children are
the most common victims of malnutrition.  Children who are poorly
nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. The sad truth is that
every year 15 million children die of hunger.




















You might wonder how what causes world hunger. The main cause of world
hunger is poverty. The causes of poverty include poor people's lack of
resources, an extremely unequal income distribution in the world, and
within specific countries, conflict, and hunger itself. As of 2008, the World
Bank has estimated that there were an estimated 982 million poor people in
developing countries who live on $1 a day or less. The real problem is that
Hunger is also a cause of poverty. By causing poor health and low levels of
energy hunger can lead to even greater poverty by reducing people's ability
to work and learn.

The worst part is – every 3.6 seconds
someone dies of hunger. It is estimated
that some 800 million people in the
world suffer from hunger and
malnutrition, about 100 times as many
as those who actually die from it each
year. World hunger is real and it is a
problem. If we all join together we can
make a difference and fight to end
world hunger.

Ways you can help:

Organize a food drive at your school
Sign the International hunger relief petition at http://ga0.
org/campaign/hunger_petition
Visit this website - www.feedingminds.org