Food plant sits idle as millions of children face starvation

The Providence-based company Edesia produces life-saving foods for children like plumpy'nut and supplementary plumpy.  With the global hunger crisis raging, this non-profit organization wants nothing more than to be producing food at record rates.  So why aren't they?

Charities that are fighting hunger are strapped for cash.  Without money, they cannot buy the food from producers like Edesia.  Navyn Salem, Edesia's director, said yesterday, "Our production line is sitting idle right now as many organizations do not have funding to reach all the need. Heartbreaking on all fronts."

Salem has made donations of the food; but as a non-profit, there is only so much Edesia can give away.  Edesia is collecting donations so it can provide more plumpy'nut to aid organizations.

There are millions of children in Niger, Chad, Guatemala, Haiti ,Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and so many other countries in desperate need of this food. Without proper nutrients, small children suffer physical and mental damage leading to a lifetime of suffering or death.  The World Food Programme, Action Against Hunger and other agencies do not have the cash to buy the food that would save these children.

Still, the massive child hunger crisis could be attacked if it were a foreign policy priority of donor governments.  It is not currently, and the implications are drastic on many levels.  For the issues of war and peace are connected to hunger and malnutrition.

To help Edesia provide more plumpy'nut, you can donate on their web site.  You can write to them as well to discuss ways to attack the problem of hunger which is engulfing the globe.

"A child is a child in any country, whatever the politics... there is no complicated diplomacy, when a child is starving. It's simple. And we better do something about it. For our sakes too. That is if we want to continue to call ourselves human."


                                                                                                        Audrey Hepburn

The photo is courtesy of Alexa Reynolds/Action Against Hunger – The name of the child in the photo is Chance, who lives in the D.R. Congo and was treated for malnutrition by Action Against Hunger

See also:

Sahel food crisis underscores need for leadership in fighting hunger

Photos of the humanitarian crisis in Niger

Video: The hunger and poverty crisis in Yemen





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