June 25, 2009
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper

According to a June report of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hunger is increasing. World hunger is predicted to reach "a historic high" in 2009 with more than 1.02 billion people experiencing hunger every day. That's 100 million people more than 2008. The FAO attributes the increase in hunger to soaring food prices and the global economic downturn.

"Thirty-five years ago the world faced a similar challenge, rising food prices and decreased income in poorer nations. In response, Lutherans chose to birth an appeal for world hunger," said the Rev. Daniel Rift, director, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Appeal. "Over that time the percent of the world's population at risk by lack of food has been cut in half, and the number of people with adequate access to food has nearly doubled. That is the good news," he said. "The FAO's analysis is that there is enough food in production to feed the world's population. That too is good news. The challenge is that the economic crisis and the high price of food have, as the FAO said, proved to be a devastating combination for the world's most vulnerable populations."

Rift said the FAO report is a call to action for those who care for people living in poverty. Lutherans "are well positioned to respond to the call," he said. The ELCA World Hunger Appeal is aimed at relief and support for development that creates sustainable solutions to ending hunger. "Seed banks, water projects, livestock sharing, small loans and market assistance are hallmarks of our work," Rift said. He suggested that congregations continue to respond by adding some activity this year to examine the current state of the world's food needs and to benefit ELCA World Hunger. "I believe this is a matter of faithfulness. The church needs to be present in bringing daily bread to the world, and the world needs the church to be present in its time of food crisis," he said.

ELCA News Service