Hunger is the greatest threat to children today, John.
We are in a global hunger crisis, which is only growing worse due to compounding crises, including conflict, climate and rising costs.
Gaza and Sudan are two of the places where this is being felt most acutely. In both places, ongoing violent conflict is making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver the lifesaving aid children urgently need.
Our teams are doing what they can to deliver resources, medical care and other support. We’re also working to raise awareness about this worsening crisis and the importance of immediate action from the global community.
If you’ve been following news coverage on child hunger, you’ve likely heard reference to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC. This is the international system made up of U.N. agencies, regional bodies and aid organizations that monitors and classifies food and malnutrition crises.
The IPC has five classifications, referred to as “Phases,” from minimal food insecurity (Phase 1) to catastrophic food insecurity or Famine (Phase 5). We rely on their data to inform our work to ensure children and families have access to the nutrition and medical care they need.
In June, new data from the IPC revealed that in Gaza, 96% of the population is experiencing severe food shortages (IPC 3+), with more than 495,000 people, including children, facing the most severe levels (IPC 5).
Meanwhile, in Sudan, more than 14 months of conflict have left 3 in 4 children – or 16.4 million – facing severe food shortages (IPC 3+). IPC figures from March showed that in one displacement camp, 23% of children were suffering from wasting, the most visible and lethal form of malnutrition.
The warning signs have come and gone. Children are already dying because of malnutrition, disease and hunger, and hundreds of thousands more are at risk. For them, time is quickly running out to prevent long-lasting impacts.
Right now, in both Gaza and Sudan where possible, we’re screening and providing treatment for malnutrition, giving families food packages and cash to buy food and delivering other lifesaving support. The basic conditions to reach families at the scale and quality needed are simply not in place, however.
That’s why we’re working tirelessly not only to reach children and families who need support but to raise awareness about the urgent and immediate need for peace and improvements in aid access. You can help, John, by watching this video and opting in to additional updates on the hunger crisis. You can also share this email and video to help amplify our message.
Thank you for being a valued partner in our work. Together, we can protect children from life-threatening hardships and help them build the futures they deserve.
