Latest news with #hunger
Washington Post
5 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Driven to starvation, Sudanese people eat weeds and plants to survive as war rages
CAIRO — With Sudan in the grips of war and millions struggling to find enough to eat, many are turning to weeds and wild plants to quiet their pangs of hunger. They boil the plants in water with salt because, simply, there is nothing else. Grateful for the lifeline it offered, a 60-year-old retired school teacher penned a love poem about a plant called Khadija Koro. It was 'a balm for us that spread through the spaces of fear,' he wrote, and kept him and many others from starving. A.H, who spoke on the condition his full name not be used, because he feared retribution from the warring parties for speaking to the press, is one of 24.6 million people in Sudan facing acute food insecurity —nearly half the population , according to the I ntegrated Food Security Phase Classification . Aid workers say the war spiked market prices, limited aid delivery, and shrunk agricultural lands in a country that was once a breadbasket of the world. Sudan plunged into war in April 2023 when simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary the Rapid Support Forces escalated to fighting in the capital Khartoum and spread across the country, killing over 20,000 people, displacing nearly 13 million people, and pushing many to the brink of famine in what aid workers deemed the world's largest hunger crisis. Food insecurity is especially bad in areas in the Kordofan region, the Nuba Mountains, and Darfur, where El Fasher and Zamzam camp are inaccessible to the Norwegian Refugee Council, said Mathilde Vu, an aid worker with the group based in Port Sudan. Some people survive on just one meal a day, which is mainly millet porridge. In North Darfur, some people even sucked on coal to ease their hunger. On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and asked him for a week-long ceasefire in El Fasher to allow aid delivery. Burhan agreed to that request, according to an army statement, but it's unknown whether the RSF would agree to that truce. A.H. said aid distribution often provided slight relief. His wife in children live in Obeid and also struggle to secure enough food due to high prices in the market. His poem continued: 'You were a world that sends love into the barren time. You were a woman woven from threads of the sun. You were the sandalwood and the jasmine and a revelation of green, glowing and longing.' Sudanese agricultural minister Abu Bakr al-Bashari told Al-Hadath news channel in April that there are no indicators of famine in the country, but there is shortage of food supplies in areas controlled by the paramilitary forces, known as RSF. However, Leni Kinzli, World Food Programme Sudan spokesperson, said 17 areas in Gezeira, most of the Darfur region, and Khartoum, including Jebel Aulia are at risk of famine. Each month, over 4 million people receive assistance from the group, including 1.7 million in areas facing famine or at risk, Kinzli said. The state is suffering from two conflicts: one between the Rapid Support Forces and the army, and another with the People's Liberation Movement-North, who are fighting against the army and have ties with the RSF, making it nearly impossible to access food, clean water, or medicine. He can't travel to Obeid in North Kordofan to be with his family, as the Rapid Support Forces blocked roads. Violence and looting have made travel unsafe, forcing residents to stay in their neighborhoods, limiting their access to food, aid workers said. A.H. is supposed to get a retirement pension from the government, but the process is slow, so he doesn't have a steady income. He can only transfer around $35 weekly to his family out of temporary training jobs, which he says is not enough. Hassan, another South Kordofan resident in Kadugli said that the state has turned into a 'large prison for innocent citizens' due to the lack of food, water, shelter, income, and primary health services caused by the RSF siege. International and grassroots organizations in the area where he lives were banned by the local government, according to Hassan, who asked to be identified only by his first name in fear of retribution for speaking publicly while being based in an area often engulfed with fighting. So residents ate the plants out of desperation. 'You would groan to give life an antidote when darkness appeared to us through the window of fear.,' A.H. wrote in his poem. 'You were the light, and when our tears filled up our in the eyes, you were the nectar. Vu warned that food affordability is another ongoing challenge as prices rise in the markets. A physical cash shortage prompted the Norwegian Refugee Council to replace cash assistance with vouchers. Meanwhile, authorities monopolize some markets and essential foods such as corn, wheat flour, sugar and salt are only sold through security approvals, according to Hassan. Meanwhile, in southwest Sudan, residents of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, rely on growing crops, but agricultural lands are shrinking due to fighting and lack of farming resources. Hawaa Hussein, a woman who has been displaced in El Serif camp since 2004, told the AP that they benefit from the rainy season but they're lacking essential farming resources such as seeds and tractors to grow beans, peanuts, sesame, wheat, and weika — dried powdered okra. Hussein, a grandmother living with eight family members, said her family receives a food parcel every two months, containing lentils, salt, oil, and biscuits. Sometimes she buys items from the market with the help of community leaders. 'There are many families in the camp, mine alone has five children, and so aid is not enough for everyone … you also can't eat while your neighbor is hungry and in need,' she said. El Serif camp is sheltering nearly 49,000 displaced people, the camp's civic leader Abdalrahman Idris told the AP. Since the war began in 2023, the camp has taken in over 5,000 new arrivals, with a recent surge coming from the greater Khartoum region, which is the Sudanese military said it took full control of in May. 'The food that reaches the camp makes up only 5% of the total need. Some people need jobs and income. People now only eat two meals, and some people can't feed their children,' he said. In North Darfur, south of El Fasher, lies Zamzam camp, one of the worst areas struck by famine and recent escalating violence. An aid worker with the Emergency Response Rooms previously based in the camp who asked not to be identified in fear of retribution for speaking with the press, told the AP that the recent wave of violence killed some and left others homeless. Barely anyone was able to afford food from the market as a pound of sugar costs 20,000 Sudanese pounds ($33) and a soap bar 10,000 Sudanese pounds ($17). The recent attacks in Zamzam worsened the humanitarian situation and he had to flee to a safer area. Some elderly men, pregnant women, and children have died of starvation and the lack of medical treatment, according to an aid worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he's fearful of retribution for speaking publicly while living in an area controlled by one of the warring parties. He didn't provide the exact number of those deaths. He said the situation in Zamzam camp is dire—'as if people were on death row.' Yet A.H. finished his poem with hope: 'When people clashed and death filled the city squares' A.H. wrote 'you, Koro, were a symbol of life and a title of loyalty.'
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Rising poverty in conflict zones ‘causes a billion people to go hungry'
Extreme poverty is accelerating in 39 countries affected by war and conflict, leaving more than a billion people to go hungry, according to the World Bank. Civil wars and confrontations between nations, mostly in Africa, have set back economic growth and reduced the incomes of more than a billion people, 'driving up extreme poverty faster than anywhere else', the Washington-based body said. Underscoring the breadth of conflicts beyond the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars, it said the 39 developing economies classified as being in fragile and conflict-affected situations are plagued by instability and weak institutions, 'hindering their ability to attain the robust, sustained economic growth needed for development'. In its first assessment of conflict zones since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, the World Bank urged western governments to step up support for war-torn countries to end the conflicts and rebuild vital institutions. Since 2020 the level of national income per head of population has shrunk by an average of 1.8% a year in the affected countries, while it has expanded by 2.9% in other developing economies, the report found. The World Bank, which lends to poor nations to promote stable economic growth, said acute hunger was increasing and development goals set by the United Nations were now 'further out of reach'. The report said: 'This year, 421 million people are struggling on less than $3 a day in economies afflicted by conflict or instability – more than in the rest of the world combined. That number is projected to rise to 435 million, or nearly 60% of the world's extreme poor, by 2030.' The number of deaths in wars and conflicts across the world was stable before the 2008 banking crisis, which forced many developing countries to cut back welfare and education programmes to pay for rising debt payments. The report said the average number of such fatalities was about 50,000 between 2000 and 2004 and even lower between 2005 and 2008, but then there was an increase to more than 150,000 in 2014. Since the pandemic the number of deaths in conflict has averaged 200,000, reaching more than 300,000 in 2022. 'For the last three years, the world's attention has been on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and this focus has now intensified,' said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group's chief economist. 'Yet more than 70% of people suffering from conflict and instability are Africans. Untreated, these conditions become chronic. Half of the countries facing conflict or instability today have been in such conditions for 15 years or more. Misery on this scale is inevitably contagious.' He said of the 39 economies currently classified as facing conflict or instability, 21 are in active conflict. Several major donors to investment programmes across the developing world have reduced their funding in recent years, including the UK and the US. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Some philanthropic organisations, including the Bill Gates Foundation, have said they cannot increase funding to fill gaps left by governments, leaving many countries to scramble for funds to pay loan interest payments. According to the report, the extreme-poverty rate has fallen to 6% on average across all developing world countries. However, in economies facing conflict or instability the rate is nearly 40%. The 39 countries have a rate of national income per head of $1,500 (£1,282) a year, 'which has barely budged since 2010 – even as GDP per capita has more than doubled to an average of $6,900 in other developing economies,' the report said. Joining the army of local militia can also be an attractive option for young men and women. In 2022, the latest year for which such data was available, more than 270 million people were of working age in these economies, yet fewer than half were employed. 'The global community must pay greater attention to the plight of these economies,' said M Ayhan Kose, the World Bank Group's deputy chief economist. 'Jumpstarting growth and development here will not be easy, but it can be done – and it has been done before. With targeted policies and stronger international support, policymakers can prevent conflict, strengthen governance, accelerate growth, and create jobs.'
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Rising poverty in conflict zones ‘causes a billion people to go hungry'
Extreme poverty is accelerating in 39 countries affected by war and conflict, leaving more than a billion people to go hungry, according to the World Bank. Civil wars and confrontations between nations, mostly in Africa, have set back economic growth and reduced the incomes of more than a billion people, 'driving up extreme poverty faster than anywhere else', the Washington-based body said. Underscoring the breadth of conflicts beyond the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars, it said the 39 developing economies classified as being in fragile and conflict-affected situations are plagued by instability and weak institutions, 'hindering their ability to attain the robust, sustained economic growth needed for development'. In its first assessment of conflict zones since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, the World Bank urged western governments to step up support for war-torn countries to end the conflicts and rebuild vital institutions. Since 2020, the level of national income per head of population has shrunk by an average of 1.8% a year in the affected countries, while it has expanded by 2.9% in other developing economies, the report found. The World Bank, which lends to poor nations to promote stable economic growth, said acute hunger was increasing and development goals set by the United Nations were now 'further out of reach'. 'This year, 421 million people are struggling on less than $3 a day in economies afflicted by conflict or instability – more than in the rest of the world combined,' the report said. 'That number is projected to rise to 435 million, or nearly 60% of the world's extreme poor, by 2030.' The number of deaths in wars and conflicts across the world was stable before the 2008 banking crisis, which forced many developing countries to cut back welfare and education programmes to pay for rising debt payments. The report said the average number of such fatalities was about 50,000 between 2000 and 2004 and even lower between 2005 and 2008, but then there was an increase to more than 150,000 in 2014. Since the pandemic, the number of deaths in conflict has averaged 200,000, hitting more than 300,000 in 2022. 'For the last three years, the world's attention has been on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and this focus has now intensified,' said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group's chief economist. 'Yet more than 70% of people suffering from conflict and instability are Africans. Untreated, these conditions become chronic. Half of the countries facing conflict or instability today have been in such conditions for 15 years or more. Misery on this scale is inevitably contagious.' He said of the 39 economies currently classified as facing conflict or instability, 21 are in active conflict. Several major donors to investment programmes across the developing world have reduced their funding in recent years, including the UK and the US. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Some philanthropic organisations, including the Bill Gates Foundation, have said they cannot increase funding to fill gaps left by governments, leaving many countries to scramble for funds to pay loan interest payments. According to the report, the extreme-poverty rate has fallen to 6% on average across all developing world countries. However, in economies facing conflict or instability the rate is nearly 40%. The 39 countries have a rate of national income per head of $1,500 a year, 'which has barely budged since 2010 – even as GDP per capita has more than doubled to an average of $6,900 in other developing economies,' the report said. Joining the army of local militia can also be an attractive option for young men and women. In 2022, the latest year for which such data was available, more than 270 million people were of working age in these economies, yet less than half were employed. 'The global community must pay greater attention to the plight of these economies,' said M Ayhan Kose, the World Bank Group's deputy chief economist. 'Jumpstarting growth and development here will not be easy, but it can be done – and it has been done before. With targeted policies and stronger international support, policymakers can prevent conflict, strengthen governance, accelerate growth, and create jobs.'
CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Are You Hungry or Do You Just Have Cravings? Try These Tips to Get In Tune With Your Body's Needs
Hunger is one of the first things we learn when we're young. In childhood, we're pretty good at reading our hunger cues. It's not until we grow up that the wires can get crossed and we have a harder time deciphering what's hunger and what's a craving. "Many people never feel true hunger but think they are hungry when they have a craving," said Lisa Testa, M.S., Chief Nutrition Officer at Raw Generation. It can be tricky to tell hunger cues from cravings. There's nothing wrong with indulging in cravings, especially when you're curled up on the couch streaming your favorite show. However, to foster a healthy relationship with food, it's essential to learn how to listen to your body to know what it needs, rather than simply giving in to cravings related to stress. The difference between cravings and hunger cues Hunger is a biological process we need to survive, it's not something that anyone should ignore. It's how we know that we need more fuel to function. But it's not as simple as our stomach being empty and feeling like we need to fill it. It's a much more involved system than that. "Complex communication between internal multiple organ systems leads to the physiological feeling of emptiness in the gastrointestinal system," said Mindy Haar, Ph.D., registered dietitian and assistant dean at New York Institute of Technology's School of Health Professions. Our gut and brain communicate with receptors throughout the digestive tract that monitor nutrient levels. When there are insufficient nutrients in the digestive system, a signal goes to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain in charge of hunger. Then, we feel like we want to eat. The same process happens to signal fullness. Physical symptoms of hunger include the following: Noisy stomach Irritability Headaches Drop in energy Difficulty focusing Shakiness Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need more nutrients. If you find yourself feeling hungry between meals, you can include more protein in your meals to help you feel fuller longer. Read more: 12 Foods I Sadly Overlooked Until I Learned How Healthy TheyCravings, on the other hand, aren't always driven by the body's need for food. Instead, they often have a psychological component driving them. They usually come on suddenly and are targeted at one specific food or food category. It can also persist even after you're already full. Cravings can happen because you're seeking comfort in food, whether you're looking for sweets, savory snacks or processed foods. Cravings can happen because of the following reasons: You're bored. You're stressed. You haven't been sleeping well. You're at a social gathering. You're deficient in something. What cravings are trying to tell you It's not a failing to crave sweets or food that brings you joy. Our brains are hardwired with a reward system that result in these feelings. When we eat something that evolutionarily would have boosted survival chances, neurotransmitters like dopamine are released, and we feel pleasure. "Humans evolved in a way that the desire for sugar and fat was a beneficial characteristic: A sensitivity to sweet tastes allowed individuals to distinguish fruit that was at the peak of freshness and vitamin and mineral content," said Haar. Meanwhile, we evolved with an enjoyment of fat to ensure we ate high-fat and high-calorie foods to increase our chances of survival during food scarcity. Sugary foods and other snacks can trigger the reward center in the brain in the same way. Haar explained that while most of us have access to nutrient-dense foods, we can't discount the food industry's role in capitalizing on our innate desire for sugar and fat. Cravings don't only have a psychological component to them. Sometimes, it's your body trying to tell you you're deficient in a particular nutrient. Read more: The Best Food Sources for Every Vitamin You Need From A to K "When you are craving sweets, it is your body's way of telling you that you haven't eaten enough calories from fresh fruits," said Testa. "When you crave salty things, it means you are lacking in chlorophyll (dark leafy greens)." But how can you tell the difference between a psychological craving and a signal that you're missing key nutrients? Testa suggests being mindful about what food you choose. For example, if you're craving a sweet treat, eat an apple instead. "If the craving does not go away, it is exactly that: a craving. If the feeling does go away, then it was a nutrition deficit that your body needed to fill." You'll want to avoid mindlessly indulging in your cravings with the wrong foods, because it could throw off your blood sugar or lead to unwanted weight gain. That said, it's essential to listen to what your body is telling you. Skipping meals because you think it might be a craving isn't the right choice either. Not only is food fuel, but not eating may lead you to make bad food choices later, like overeating or opting for less nutritious options. Julia_Sudnitskaya/Getty Images Tips to tune into your hunger cues There's nothing wrong with giving in to cravings sometimes. But it's helpful to know the difference between a physical hunger cue and a craving. Tuning into your hunger cues rather than relying on what you think you should eat will go a long way in feeling your best. Remember that everyone has a different relationship with food and that different approaches work for different people. Use the 20-minute rule Timing is one of the most powerful tools for determining whether you're feeling a craving or a hunger cue. If you're unsure which one you're feeling, try the 20-minute rule. After twenty minutes of waiting, if you're still hungry, it's a hunger cue, not a craving. Cravings generally fall off, while hunger will always persist. Eat slowly Another healthy eating tactic that Haar recommends is eating slowly. "Put down utensils between bites and don't pick them up until the mouthful of food is swallowed," she said. It takes roughly 20 minutes for the brain to register that the stomach is full. So if you eat a lot of food in ten minutes, you might still feel hungry, despite being enough to fulfill the hunger cue. Eating slowly gives you a chance to listen to what you're feeling. Drink some water Sometimes, we mistake hunger signals for thirst signals. Drinking water before you eat will help you determine what signal your body is sending. Not to mention, there are numerous benefits of drinking enough water, including feeling energized, being in a better mood, minimizing headaches and preventing kidney stones. Eat at regular intervals Our bodies love routine, and eating at regular intervals will ensure it has the fuel needed to function and help you make the best food choices throughout the day. Research has found that our appetite is linked to the circadian rhythm, our body's internal clock. The circadian rhythm regulates several key bodily functions, like sleep, hunger and metabolism. It's also important to prioritize quality sleep. When you haven't slept well, you're more likely to make poor food choices or throw off your regular eating schedule. Read more: 7 Foods That Help Me Sleep Better and Might Work for You Too Don't cut out snacks For some people, food restriction can put undue stress on their relationship with food. Complete restriction isn't necessary to maintain a well-balanced diet, nor must you count calories for everything you eat. We all have cravings, and it's OK to indulge sometimes. Eating can be as simple as listening to what your body tells you and making a few mindful choices to ensure you're making the best choices for your health.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mission Craft Cocktails Announces New Nationwide Partnership with Feeding America®, Helping to Provide at Least 1.5 Million Meals for Americans Facing Hunger
As food insecurity spikes this summer, California's award-winning ready-to-drink cocktail increases its commitment 150% with $150,000 initial donation ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the first day of summer upon us, temperatures aren't the only thing rising - so is food insecurity. Which is why alongside its nationwide expansion in all Total Wine & More stores, Mission Craft Cocktails has doubled down on its purpose-driven quest to 'pour it forward' and deliver real impact with a long-term, nationwide partnership with Feeding America®. Mission Craft Cocktails' initial $150,000 pledge will help provide 1.5 million meals for Americans experiencing hunger through the Feeding America network of over 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs across the country. Building on the Southern California-born brand's once regional footprint - having funded over 600,000 meals for families in need via Community Action Partnership of Orange County with their 5% of sales pledge - Mission Craft Cocktail Founders Amit Singh and Marcin Malyszko are proud to amplify the brand's impact and continue to help ensure families across the country have access to the food they need to thrive. Mission Craft Cocktails' award-winning bar-strength, 375 mL ready-to-drink cocktails made from locally-sourced Southern California ingredients and premium bar spirits have been consistently recognized as best-in-class - winning Platinum and Consumers' Choice honors at the SIP Awards and a Platinum and numerous Double Golds at the San Francisco World Wine and Spirits Competition. Beyond this, Singh and Malyszko's commitment to make an impact in the fight against food insecurity also caught the attention of Ernst & Young LLP. The duo are currently finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Pacific Southwest Region. "When we started Mission Craft Cocktails in 2023, our purpose was always crystal clear - to build a premium brand designed to pour it forward and support people experiencing food insecurity. Today is a remarkable milestone, as we take this purpose nationwide and increase our impact 150% in partnership with Feeding America," notes Singh and Malyszko. "We believe in placing just as much care in one another as we do the cocktails we craft." Believing all people deserve to have enough food to eat without worrying if they can afford it, Feeding America envisions an America where no one goes hungry. They turn this ethos into action with a nationwide network that ensures everyone can get the food they need with respect and dignity; through advocacy to improve food security for everyone; and by working to address the root causes of food insecurity - including the high cost of living and systematic barriers to opportunity. "With food banks across the country reporting rising demand, millions of people are turning to the Feeding America network for support," said Lauren Biedron, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. "We are grateful for Mission Craft Cocktails' generous donation during this critical time. Their commitment to the mission to end hunger will help provide more nutritious food to communities nationwide." Learn more about Mission Craft Cocktails by visiting: About Mission Craft CocktailsMission Craft Cocktails' Founders Amit Singh and Marcin Malyszko are Keeping it Real with award-winning, bar strength 20-40% abv, ready-to-drink cocktails made from locally-sourced SoCal ingredients except spirits—and delivering real impact: 600,000+ meals funded through their 5% of sales giveback program. From Wine Enthusiast's drink of the summer – the Jalapeno Pineapple Margarita – and traditional Margs to Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan to Manhattan and Old Fashioned (even a killer Mai Tai), Mission Craft Cocktails are bottled and ready to pour. Because sometimes you need a cocktail, now—no bar tools, no $25 price tag, all good. About Feeding AmericaFeeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit to learn more. Media Contact: P-22 AgencyE: ty@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mission Craft Cocktails Sign in to access your portfolio
