HUNGER CRISIS APPEAL

Right now, the world stands on the brink of unprecedented famines. Latest reports from the UN suggest acute hunger is alarmingly at a five-year high. 50 million people globally in 46 countries are at imminent risk of famine , experiencing critical hunger, severe levels of food insecurity, and malnutrition. 

Countless people are already experiencing famine-like conditions in places like Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Conflict and violence, climate change, and Covid-19, along with compounded economic shocks are driving the increase of hunger globally.

“They are not a believer who fills their stomach while their neighbour goes hungry.”
– Prophet Muhammad

For starving people across the world, life is incredibly challenging:

• As many as 811 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each night

• Each day 25,000 starving people , including more than 10,000 children, die from hunger and related causes

• Rising food prices may drive 100 million more people into poverty and hunger

• 14 million children under the age of five worldwide suffer from severe acute malnutrition, yet only 25% of these starving children have access to lifesaving treatment

• More than 1 million children die each year from severe wasting

According to the UN, hunger is defined as periods when populations are experiencing severe food insecurity—meaning that they go for entire days without eating due to lack of money and access to food or other resources. 

Even though more than enough food is produced to feed the global population, as many as 811 million people still go hungry. That means a stark 11.3% of the world’s population is starving. 

For the millions of starving people in the world, nearly 70% of people facing crisis levels of hunger can be localized to 10 countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Pakistan, and Yemen. 

50 million people globally in 46 countries are facing emergency levels of hunger. Of critical concern are the 570,000 individuals who faced starvation and death in just four countries: Ethiopia, southern Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen.

More than 10% of the world's population goes to bed hungry every night. 50 million people in 46 countries are teetering on the edge of famine, nearly doubling from 2019 – before the Covid-19 pandemic. The humanitarian needs are higher today than ever before. 

25,000 people die of hunger every day. That's one person every 4 seconds, and it's only getting worse. This is a catastrophe and we must act quickly to save lives.

Islamic Relief is on the ground , responding with life-saving support for displaced, host and vulnerable communities facing hunger across the world. We need your immediate help to provide food, water, nutritional support and health services to people who urgently need it.

As part of the Humanitarian Coalition, donations made to Islamic Relief Canada between June 15 - July 17 2022 were matched by the Government of Canada. Although the matching period is now complete, the need is still great and your support will make a difference.

Donate now to help reach children, women, and families in need.

There are three main drivers of hunger – conflict, economics, and weather. 

In the past few years, severe weather, including the worst drought in 40 years in East Africa, has decimated crops, livestock, and water supplies. Economic instability, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic, has pushed more and more families into poverty. 

However, ongoing conflict and insecurity remain the greatest cause of hunger. And now, in addition to political instability already present in many vulnerable countries, the current crisis in Ukraine is pushing food insecurity to catastrophic levels. Russia and Ukraine supply 80% of East Africa's wheat flour, and 12% of the world's food exports.

The world is starving, with 827 million people projected to be undernourished this year alone. Famine, armed conflict, displacement, political instability, disease, and economic decline have left 274 million people in need of humanitarian aid.

We are on the ground in every one of these countries, working to deliver aid. Every single day people are dealing with severe hunger, and millions now face widespread famine if nothing is done to help them.

By supporting Islamic Relief, you’ll be helping to feed families across the world and fight this global hunger crisis. Help us provide emergency support and work to ensure hunger no more for communities over the long-term. Your support will save lives.