Latest news with #ActionAgainstHunger
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Action Against Hunger Statement on Gaza Humanitarian Aid Distribution
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. May 30, 2025 /3BL/ - Action Against Hunger remains deeply committed to addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the entire population faces severe hunger, displacement, and grave suffering. Our priority is the swift, safe, and impartial delivery of lifesaving assistance to civilians in need, in accordance with humanitarian principles. Action Against Hunger has not endorsed (and will not endorse), nor agreed to collaborate with any mechanism that does not comply with fundamental humanitarian principles. Action Against Hunger firmly supports the UN-coordinated response as the most viable, principled, and immediately actionable framework for large-scale aid delivery. This system has been tested, is already operational, and remains the best pathway to reach those most in need without delay. We cannot afford to divert attention or resources from proven mechanisms when lives hang in the balance. We urgently call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. Action Against Hunger continues to advocate for all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Action Against Hunger has been assisting the population in Gaza for more than 20 years. Responding to the escalating crisis, our teams have mobilized to provide hot meals and fresh and dry food, distribute hygiene kits, connect people with shelters, and truck clean water into communities. Since the start of the conflict, under restricted access and frequent blackouts, Action Against Hunger has assisted more than one million people in Gaza and the West Bank.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
6 Months After Ceasefire in Lebanon
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. NEW YORK and BEIRUT, May 27, 2025 /3BL/ - Despite hopes for peace after a ceasefire agreement six months ago in November 2024 in Lebanon, military activity remains intense in southern parts of the country, the Bekaa Valley and southern suburbs of Beirut. Around 90,000 people remain internally displaced, and nearly 1.2 million suffer from high levels of food insecurity. The civilian population remains at high risk, and recent attacks have targeted populated areas, further endangering lives and livelihoods. 'One of the last air strikes was on 8 May,' explains Suzanne Takkenberg, director of Action Against Hunger in Lebanon. 'On that day, there were more than 19 attacks in the space of an hour in southern Lebanon, close to our distribution points, forcing us to temporarily halt our activities.' 1 in 6 people Cannot Return Home According to the International Organization for Migration, approximately 90,000 people remain internally displaced in Lebanon. While over 900,000 people have returned to their communities, many have found their homes uninhabitable. Families are forced to live in borrowed flats or rent temporary housing, and the risks of unexploded ordnance and violence remain. One such displaced person is Ali (name changed for safety). Ali's home was completely destroyed, and he lost his job due to the conflict. He had no choice but to flee. Like hundreds of others, Ali took refuge at the emergency shelter in Bir Hassan School in south Beirut, where now, eight months later, he remains. Displaced people like Ali struggle to access clean water, healthcare, and sanitation. 'Displacement, extraordinary increases in the cost of living, interruptions in food supply, loss of livelihoods and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure are some of the barriers that prevent civilians from meeting their most basic needs,' said Takkenberg. Agriculture and Food Crisis According to the latest UN report on food security in Lebanon, nearly 1.2 million people, including Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians suffer from high levels of acute food insecurity despite the ceasefire. The situation is mainly due to the protracted impact of the conflict, continued forced population displacement, and the deep economic crisis of recent years. The livelihoods of families, especially those who make their living from agriculture, have been severely impacted. According to the World Bank, damage to the agricultural sector is estimated at a minimum of $11 billion in losses since the start of the conflict in October 2023. The border area was one of the worst affected during the escalation of the conflict. Jaafar, a farmer in Beit Lif, a predominantly agricultural region along the border with Israel, says that 'because of the drones, everyone is afraid. All the land and all the fields are destroyed in this area in the south. The trees have either been uprooted or damaged.' Beit Lif's population used to be 7,000, but now only 125 remain as lack of access to fertilizer, water, and fuel makes land cultivation nearly impossible. Mahmoud, a displaced person from Odaisseh says, 'There is no life. There are no plants. There is nothing left.' He has been living with his family for over a year and a half and cannot return home due to the level of destruction. 'We didn't expect the conflict to last so long, so we didn't bring many things with us. If humanitarian organizations stopped working here, it would be like leaving us at the mercy of the desert,' he concludes. Action Against Hunger's Humanitarian Response 'Many families are struggling to afford essential food items, and food insecurity is widespread. The most urgent needs include emergency shelter, access to clean water, hygiene kits, and sanitation facilities,' explains Suzanne Takkenberg. 'Damage to water and sanitation infrastructures makes it very difficult for families to return home permanently. The risk of waterborne diseases remains high. The efforts of humanitarian organizations are crucial to protect the well-being and dignity of those affected.' Action Against Hunger is providing emergency support in Beirut, the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Nabatiyeh, and southern Lebanon. Activities include: *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Action Against Hunger
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Action Against Hunger Appoints Five New Board Members To Help Address the Global Hunger Crisis
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. NEW YORK, May 23, 2025 /3BL/ - Action Against Hunger, a nonprofit leader in the global movement to end hunger, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new board members to its US Board of Directors. The appointees share a passion for Action Against Hunger's vision of ending hunger in our lifetimes, and they will further enhance the board's expertise in finance and technology. They will have an instrumental role in helping the organization address the global hunger crisis, navigate widespread humanitarian aid cuts, and uphold our commitment to supporting vulnerable communities around the world. Pledge 1% Action Against Hunger operates in 59 countries and reaches over 21 million people each year with lifesaving programs that address both immediate needs and root causes of hunger, ensuring long-term impact. The organization has an exemplary track record of transparency and governance practices; it holds 17 years of the highest-possible 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator. New appointees' expertise in finance and technology reaffirm Action Against Hunger's commitment to sound fiscal management and innovation as crucial mechanisms for maximizing the impact of the organization's work. They join a well-rounded board whose range of expertise encompasses topics including food systems, public health, health policy, sustainability, sustainable development, communications, and biotechnology. Existing board members include Ray Debbane (Chair), Thilo Semmelbauer (Co-Chair), Sylvain Desjonqueres (Co-Chair), Dr. Charles Owubah (Secretary and Chief Executive Officer), Christophe Duthoit (Treasurer), Mitra Best, Patrick Cogny, Yves-André Istel, Alain Karaoglan, Jess Kwong, Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge, Amy Schulman, Robert Spatt, Karim Tabet, Sandra Tamer, and David Van Zandt. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Gaza on the Brink: Action Against Hunger Races To Prevent Child Malnutrition
Published by Action Against Hunger. May 22, 2025 While the influx of flour has allowed some bakeries to reopen in southern Gaza—an important step towards curbing malnutrition among children and pregnant and lactating women—stocks of nutritional food for children under five are close to running out. Action Against Hunger's stock of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) will run out in less than a week in the south and in about 10 days in the north. The sanitary situation is also critical: the entry of chlorine to make water drinkable remains unauthorized. In addition, the lack of gas and electricity cuts prevent cooking; a 1kg gas cylinder costs $200, an unaffordable price. Nevertheless, Action Against Hunger teams continue to operate on the ground. 'Our colleagues in Gaza are going through the same daily difficulties as the rest of the population, but they still insist on continuing their activities every day.' Saving the lives of people in Gaza has become a race against time. 'Currently, only six days have been authorized for the entry of trucks with humanitarian aid, without allowing NGOs to load essential supplies,' says Action Against Hunger's head of Middle East operations, Natalia Anguera, who continues: 'Flour has come in and some bakeries in the south have resumed operations, which is a vital step forward in combating malnutrition among children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, but specific nutritional supplies reserves for children under five are about to run out in the same area.' Even if bakeries now have flour, the lack of fuel, energy, and safe water supplies prevents these facilities from being fully operational. Our teams on the ground report that there are less than seven days' supply of therapeutic food, essential to prevent acute malnutrition in children aged 6 months to 5 years, in southern Gaza and 10 days in the north. There is still a lack of gas and continuous power cuts. Families can barely cook, except by burning leftovers in the streets, and a 1kg canister of gas costs $200, a price that is completely unaffordable for any family. The entry of chlorine for water purification remains unauthorized. Our water trucking is critically dependent on the availability of petrol, which is also in short supply. How We Are Working to Save Children's Lives in Gaza The latest UN analysis, in which Action Against Hunger is involved, is stark: 71,000 cases of acute malnutrition are expected among children under five, of whom 14,100 could die if they do not receive urgent assistance. In the face of this unprecedented humanitarian emergency, our teams on the ground are pouring all available resources into protecting children and their mothers. The urgency is paramount. As one of our breastfeeding counsellors in Gaza tells us: 'Every visit confirms my worst fears: there is no end to this crisis. The situation is becoming increasingly catastrophic, and the acute shortage of aid and assistance is becoming more and more alarming'. At Action Against Hunger, we are developing essential programmes to prevent and treat malnutrition. We distribute nutritional supplements to children aged 6–59 months, as well as pregnant and lactating women, to strengthen their health before malnutrition sets in. We provide specific care for those who already suffer malnutrition, tailoring treatments to individual needs. For babies aged 6–23 months, we provide safe and appropriate complementary foods, essential for their development in an environment where there are few viable alternatives. Early detection is key: we assess children and women by measuring their arm circumference, a simple but vital technique for early action. We also implement our specific programme for pregnant or breastfeeding women who are already suffering from malnutrition, offering a nutritional reinforcement adapted to their needs. In addition, we care for and treat children who are acutely malnourished, both severely and moderately.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Agnes' Story: Leading Nutrition Change in Tanzania's Health System
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. For over two decades, Agnes Jairo has worked as a nurse at Mgandu Dispensary in rural Tanzania. She trained many of her colleagues when they first arrived at the dispensary as new health workers, and they still admire her expertise. Agnes' passion for nursing was ignited when she observed the care provided by a nurse during a hospital visit with her mother at a young age. She knew then that she wanted to dedicate her life to healing others and improving the wellbeing of her community. The Nutrition Crisis in Tanzania Only about 19% of children in Tanzania have the World Health Organization's outlined Minimum Diet Diversity for children ages 6-23 months, which recommends a minimum of five food groups a day to achieve nutritional health. 'The majority of the illnesses we receive here are caused by poor nutrition, especially among children under five years,' Agnes notes. According to Tanzania's 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, 30% of children in Tanzania suffer from stunting, which is when a child has a low height for their age due to having suboptimal nutrition, and 12% are underweight. This is a significant improvement from 2010, when 42% of children were stunted and 15% were underweight, but it still means that thousands of children are being subjected to the long-term, harmful effects of malnutrition like: A child's nutritional health is closely related to that of its mother's, but women in Tanzania are highly vulnerable to malnutrition themselves. Only 18% of women in rural areas achieve the minimum dietary diversity due to factors such as limited access to resources, poverty, and harmful social norms. This is not just the case in Tanzania; roughly one in four women globally suffer from undernutrition according to the Gender Nutrition Gap Report. Improving women's nutrition is essential for them to thrive and reach their full potential. When a woman is malnourished, pregnancy can aggravate existing nutritional challenges. Pregnancy increases the demand for critical micronutrients, which can be especially difficult to meet in conditions of food insecurity. UNICEF warns that deficiencies in certain nutrients like zinc, iodine, or calcium while pregnant lead to higher risks of complications such as pre-eclampsia or death during childbirth, and babies have a higher chance of being stillborn, having a low birthweight, or facing a developmental delay. Anemia, for example, is most commonly caused by an iron deficiency and is responsible for about 14.5% of maternal deaths in Tanzania each year. A 2021 study, High Burden of Anemia Among Pregnant Women in Tanzania: a Call to Address Its Determinants, evaluated approximately 23,200 women in Tanzania found that over 57% of pregnant women were afflicted with anemia, putting both mother and baby at risk. In addition to the nutritional challenges of pregnancy, women are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition for a wide variety of socioeconomic factors. Some of the main contributors to poor nutrition outcomes in Tanzania include discriminatory attitudes of health providers, inadequate crop management, poor agricultural and hygiene practices, and household food insecurity. These realities point to the need for a gender-sensitive transformation of nutrition services in Tanzania—a need that the Gender Equitable Nutrition (GENTU) project is addressing head-on. GENTU: A Gender-Responsive Approach to Nutrition In 2023, Action Against Hunger, supported by Global Affairs Canada, launched the Gender Equitable Nutrition (GENTU) project to reduce gender gaps and contribute to gender equality in Tanzania and Uganda, primarily in rural communities. In doing so, the GENTU project is also able to directly address the issue of malnutrition among women and children in Uganda and Tanzania, tackling the two innately intertwined issues simultaneously. The project began with a needs assessment for Maternal, Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition (MIYCAN) in two target districts: Bahi and Itigi. The assessment suggested that an effective strategy to improve and sustain nutrition outcomes for the women, adolescent girls, and children in these districts would be to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver gender-sensitive nutrition services. Thus, Action Against Hunger developed a plan to provide training and support that would transform the way nutritional interventions are approached. With this project, women become health changemakers in their communities. Health workers are upskilled to provide effective nutritional interventions, and mothers are armed with the education and skills to make dietary decisions for themselves and their children. Set to run for five years, the GENTU project will directly support 214,764 people (58% female), and indirectly support 92,105 people (37% female) in highly at-risk, rural communities, taking a multi-sectoral approach to holistically address malnutrition and its root causes. Building Capacity Through MIYCAN Training After years of seeing the harmful effects of malnutrition on the women and children in her community, Agnes was eager to join GENTU's Maternal, Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition (MIYCAN) training program. Agnes underwent on-the-job mentorship and training on providing support to women and children dealing with nutritional challenges. She also learned about counseling caregivers of underweight children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. The training covered: 'Women and children in rural areas like Mgandu face significant vulnerabilities. Our clinic receives many patients, and we sometimes lack the resources to meet all their needs. These training sessions by GENTU have been invaluable, and I am grateful to be part of them,' said Agnes Jairo. Since completing the GENTU training, Agnes has applied her new skills in day-to-day clinical work. She provides support for pregnant women and mothers of underweight children, advises on breastfeeding practices, and monitors child growth using the knowledge and tools offered in the training. The Mgandu Dispensary where Agnes works provides antenatal services to approximately 1,160 children under five and 120 pregnant women monthly. Strengthening Systems for Long-Term Sustainability One of the key goals of the GENTU project is system-wide integration of nutrition services. By embedding training, supervision, and data tracking into existing healthcare systems, the project supports long-term sustainability beyond the life of the program. Health care providers like Agnes can train new health workers with the information and techniques learned in GENTU training, ensuring that best practices ripple across the system and improve nutrition interventions for years to come. Additionally, the longevity of GENTU's work is preserved through knowledge-sharing within the community. Action Against Hunger holds Community Awareness sessions in which people can learn nutritional information and practices to take home. For example, communities are taught about the importance of diet diversity in combatting malnutrition, so when faced with a decision between buying a larger quantity of one type of food or a smaller quantity of greater variety, they know that a greater variety is typically the better option for nutritional outcomes. Community members can integrate healthy nutritional practices into their homes, lead their own learning sessions, and disseminate information for generations to come. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Action Against Hunger
