Hunger in Africa

Jingqian Zhang

It is difficult to conceive that, despite all the technological advances and massive amounts of money flowing through the global financial system, there are still huge numbers of people around the world who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Food may be fully stocked in refrigerators of homes in many countries but out of reach for many in poor countries. This reflects the fact that hunger is part of daily life for people in some countries, especially many in Africa.

Africa does not have the means to provide food for its people, and a lack of food has been a long-term problem of the continent. Because of this problem, children suffer from hunger and malnutrition and even death.

One major cause is poverty, which is intimately connected to a weak economy. In addition, corruption and inefficient governance exacerbate the already serious situation. Further, the rapidly growing population is another factor, and yet another is war, which limit the distribution of food across areas that need it most. Hunger also comes from ethnic discrimination because ethnic differences represent a core source of conflict in the region. These are just a few factors contributing to hunger in Africa, and therefore the continent is expected to require a long time to address this serious issue. In addition, it requires external aid. Most of all, it requires global attention, interest, and action.

Although many international organizations make substantial efforts to address hunger in Africa, such efforts never seem enough because efforts of not some limited groups of organizations and governments but of people across the world are needed to make this issue a global, not regional, issue. It is only when this issue becomes a global issue (like climate change) that it has a fighting chance to be sufficiently addressed. Otherwise, it will simply remain a problem for people who live in some faraway continent.