Fighting hunger and malnutrition

Too often the news brings us scenes of heartbreaking devastation. But as children take shelter from violence, there’s more danger than bullets and bombs.

As families flee, desperate for a safe place to shelter, they find themselves battling a new enemy: hunger.

The world is now witnessing the biggest global hunger crisis in decades as conflict – and climate change – drives more and more people, including millions of children, to the edge of starvation.

Despite the global number of children dying from hunger declining every decade since the 1980s, it’s now back on the rise. Children are bearing the brunt of an unequal food system.

Last year 2.4 billion people worldwide did not have adequate access to food – an increase of 391 million since before the pandemic.

Not only are people missing out on meals – sometimes for days or longer – they’re not getting enough of the right kinds of foods; the ones needed to maintain good health.

World Vision’s work to end hunger

World Vision is a global leader in providing food assistance at scale – delivering food rations and cash or vouchers to refugees, displaced people, and communities suffering drought and extreme hunger.

We support children who are hungry and malnourished. In fact, we’re one of the largest partners of the World Food Programme.

We are creating greater change and making a longer-lasting difference to children’s lives. And you can be a part of it.

Uncertain futures

Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five are a result of undernutrition. Without fruit, vegetables, starchy foods, and dairy children’s bodies can’t fight off illnesses. Malnutrition can also lead to life-long health problems.

Right now, babies all over the world are being born into a hunger crisis. They face a much harder fight than they should have to, just to survive.

Baby Angelica’s story

Baby Angelica was born in Guatemala, where one in two children suffer chronic malnutrition.

Her mum, Emma, is 21 and has regular seizures, which means she can’t look after Angelica on her own. This has forced Emma’s mum – also called Angelica – to give up work. And has put the entire family under financial pressure.

“I used to work but since now I have to take care of the baby. My son is supporting me,” says Angelica, who has four grown children and receives around £30 every two weeks from one of her sons.

First check-up

Baby Angelica was born prematurely and underweight. She also cried a lot, but with limited finance and access to healthcare, it wasn’t until she was five months old that her grandmother took her to the health centre for a check-up.

After discovering Angelica was malnourished, community volunteers enrolled her in a local World Vision nutrition programme, where she started taking a supplementary milk called Manimax to help her gain weight.

“Without World Vision’s help... they would have sent her away...” – Angelica

Addressing malnutrition

World Vision’s work to support babies and their caregivers is critical in addressing the root causes of malnutrition. These include poverty and a lack of knowledge about good nutritional practices.

For baby Angelica, now she is a sponsored child, her future looks brighter. Her health is gradually improving. She receives regular check-ups through World Vision’s community health programme, where she is weighed and receives enough nutrients to not only survive but thrive.

“Without World Vision’s help,” says Angelica, “I would not have been able to help my granddaughter and they would have sent her away because children with nutritional problems are hospitalised far away.”

Additionally, grandmother Angelica is receiving nutritional training from World Vision – learning how to prepare healthy, nutritious, meals for her granddaughter using affordable, locally-sourced ingredients.

“I also attended talks where I learned the correct way to prepare meals according to the colour of the rainbow so that they have all the minerals and that children grow up healthy,” says Angelica.

“She still eats soft food, but I have tried to include more variety of fruits, vegetables like bananas, avocado and herbs.”

READ MORE: Why sponsor a child

Reducing vulnerability

World Vision supports and partners with families in countries like Guatemala, helping them reduce their food vulnerability. Families learn how to grow healthy food and protect their children from malnutrition. Water and sanitation projects help eliminate water-borne diseases.

As a member of the DEC, World Vision also responds to disasters and emergencies, providing essentials like food, clean water, sanitation, shelter and protection. Helping children and their families survive, recover, and rebuild.