Tackling Hunger Crisis in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and North-East Nigeria Requires $4.4 Billion
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56223#.WPWTB4jyvHo
I was shocked to hear the news during our semester that the UN had declared a state of emergency with almost twenty million people facing dire famine in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan. Food aid is a vital resource following natural disasters but increasingly, world crisis have been caused by man-made conflicts. Too often, crises are exacerbated due to the unwillingness of wealthy nations to do their part in contributing towards global welfare. The UN reports that only two cents for every dollar needed has been to provide adequate supplies and necessities to refugees living in refugee camps. In my research, I was disappointed to learn that neither Canada nor the United States has meet the international recommendation for 0.7% of their budgets to be spent on international aid. Growing nationalism has also seen leaders like Donald Trump threatening to even lower their percentage of the budget dedicated to aid. This evidence is a reminder that lack of commitment and coordination of international obligations can have serious effects on human well being.
Food security is, and will continue to be, a vastly complex issue. Conflicts lead to the destruction of valuable farmland, increasing food insecurity, creating even more conflict. It is a negative spiral that cannot be easily escaped. Indeed, conflicts are one of the greatest threats to ending hunger. The interplay of foreign politics and increasing trend towards isolationism with the ability of international organizations to address these issues is key to future success. This is why one of the key pieces of learning I have come to through this course is that we, as global citizens, must pressure our respective governments to enact policy that promotes global stability through sustainability and the eradication of hunger.
This evidence is important because it is a reminder that advances in global food security are still precarious and all the positive advances could be erased if various interest groups are not working toward the common goal of eliminating food insecurity. I heard once that any person that dies of starvation in today's world should be considered 'murder.' As Canadians, we must fulfil our ethical obligations to ensure that this basic human right is not in jeopardy. As global citizens, we must stay informed and vocal on world issues. With our vote, we can exert pressure to commit to ensuring global well being.
Food security is, and will continue to be, a vastly complex issue. Conflicts lead to the destruction of valuable farmland, increasing food insecurity, creating even more conflict. It is a negative spiral that cannot be easily escaped. Indeed, conflicts are one of the greatest threats to ending hunger. The interplay of foreign politics and increasing trend towards isolationism with the ability of international organizations to address these issues is key to future success. This is why one of the key pieces of learning I have come to through this course is that we, as global citizens, must pressure our respective governments to enact policy that promotes global stability through sustainability and the eradication of hunger.
This evidence is important because it is a reminder that advances in global food security are still precarious and all the positive advances could be erased if various interest groups are not working toward the common goal of eliminating food insecurity. I heard once that any person that dies of starvation in today's world should be considered 'murder.' As Canadians, we must fulfil our ethical obligations to ensure that this basic human right is not in jeopardy. As global citizens, we must stay informed and vocal on world issues. With our vote, we can exert pressure to commit to ensuring global well being.