Joy Phumaphi, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank, says that while economic improvements in poorer countries have been made, the global financial crisis puts those improvements in danger. (0:31)
The economic crisis has led to 100 million more people starving worldwide according to David Beckman, President of the Bread for the World Institute. In addition to that, Joy Phumahi, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank said that 44 million more people are suffering from malnutrition as a result of the worldwide financial crisis.
At a presentation held by the Bread for the World Institute, Phumaphi said “all countries are in harm’s way.” In order to try and help global poverty and hunger, Phumaphi felt the U.S. must financially assist in improving health, agriculture, and infrastructure. She also stated that the U.S. must invest in better education abroad. Phumaphi noted that children leaving school as a result of the financial crisis “rarely return to the classroom.” She did acknowledge that there had been positives in poverty globally, especially in Africa, but this crisis had left those improvements “at risk.”
Ken Hackett, President of Catholic Relief Services, said that any foreign assistance should be done in the interest of the poor. He also claimed that foreign assistance has become too “fragmented,” and collaboration should be a priority in improving foreign assistance. He also felt it is “critical” that civil society agencies be used to help assist government in providing relief to poverty-stricken communities globally.
In a report released by the Bread for the World Institute, the institute states U.S. foreign assistance reform should include specific goals of poverty reduction worldwide, partnerships with countries receiving assistance to meet long-term goals, and closer coordination with other international donors worldwide.
Danny Glover discusses the need for governments to reorganize the economic marketplace to allow farmers to more easily create food for families. (0:55)
Award winning actor, Danny Glover speaks out about the United States large waste of food that could be going to help feed children in underdeveloped countries. (1:19)
In a briefing today on the global food crisis, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), award winning actor Danny Glover and other experts discussed the increasingly negative impact of malnutrition on children.
According to the World Bank, and estimated 100 million people have been pushed into poverty in recent years, largely due to the rising food costs. Many families are substituting nutrient rich foods like meat with starchy, cheaper foods with little nutritional value. This under nutrition has large and lasting effects on children all over the world and needs to be brought to global attention, said Jackson Lee. (more…)
