Remembering Eisenhower's warning on child hunger as we go forward in Afghanistan

It was 62 years ago yesterday that General Dwight Eisenhower made a speech appealing for aid to children suffering in the aftermath of World War II. While many years have passed since Ike's speech, its basic principles hold much relevance today, especially when we see scenes of Afghan children struggling to get food and other basic necessities.  (See the BBC report The Harsh Lives of Kabul's Street Children)

Eisenhower asked, "How can we expect children who are reduced almost to an animal life level of existence - who struggle each day for any kind of food that will keep them alive - how can we expect them in the future to be apostles of peace?"

Today,  we have to ask ourselves is everything being done to help the estimated 600,000 street children in Afghanistan? Shouldn't they be a higher priority on the list of reconstruction efforts for Afghanistan? In such a society torn by conflict for so many years, it is the children who suffer the most.

Dedicated charities do what they can for the Afghan children, but they need more support. In a recent article I wrote about how the Aschiana Foundation helps street children in Kabul and how the addition of a take-home ration program would be of benefit to their efforts. Aschiana has limited funding so they would need assistance to provide these rations. This food would be a huge safety net for the children and their families.

I contacted the UN World Food Programme (WFP).  A WFP officer informed me that they are looking into this possibility, and they have a similar effort already underway with another charity in the northern part of Afghanistan.

So let's see some action on building a take-home ration initiative for the street children of Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul. These children need food, education and hope. All children in Afghanistan should be entitled to these three core elements.

Of course, the crisis facing children goes far beyond Afghanistan. It will require a more extensive response from the international community than currently exists, particularly when it comes to the leadership.

If  the U.S. appoints a food ambassador/coordinator, as called for in the Roadmap to End Global Hunger legislation, this would be a way to place a greater emphasis on child feeding and rehabilitation in Afghanistan and around the world.

Youtube video with audio excerpt from Dwight Eisenhower's speech on July 8, 1948





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