Why is hunger a problem

Hunger and malnutrition are part of an ongoing cycle, as both a cause and effect of many other factors too, like inequality and lack of education. Join our mailing list for insider updates about breaking emergencies and what you can do to help. How much do you know about the causes of global hunger? The answers may surprise you. Join a group of dedicated social media champions to help provide lifesaving food to families.

You pick the topic, and for every correct answer 10 grains of rice are donated to change lives around the world! What Causes Hunger? They do not have the land to grow enough food to supply themselves with enough to eat year round, and they earn so little income from what they sell that they cannot afford to purchase food from other sources once their own supply runs out.

In the United States and other high-income countries, hunger is mainly caused by poverty that results from a lack of jobs or because jobs pay too little. Hunger rates rise when the national or local economy is in a slump. People lose jobs and cannot find work. Once the economy improves some people continue to struggle to find work. For example, people who have been in prison face wide-scale discrimination that makes it difficult for them to find jobs once they reenter their community.

In single-parent families, the parent may not be able to take a job or work enough hours because of no childcare options. Food shortages in developing countries are common. The people most affected are smallholder farmers and their families who depend on their own surplus to survive between harvests.

This period of time may last for months depending on the size of the previous harvest. Similarly, in the U. Families cut back on how much they eat and then eventually skip meals altogether on some days.

Another reason for food shortages is up to 40 percent of food grown in some countries is spoilage. Smallholder farmers do not have adequate storage facilities to protect their supplies against pests and weather.

Poor infrastructure causes hunger by making it difficult — sometimes impossible — to transport food to areas of a country where there are shortages.

People have died of hunger in one region of a country while there was plenty of food in another region. The roads were so poor it was not possible to reach all who needed the food to survive. Crops need water to grow. Irrigation infrastructure is unaffordable to most farmers in developing countries.

A lack of water and sanitation infrastructure are leading causes of hunger and malnutrition. Join the conversation on social, and stay connected with the latest from our partners around the world.

In Africa, our epicenter food banks provide storage for excess harvest and ensure the food security of our partners during off-seasons. Develop income-generating activities. We implement income-generating activities: from sewing projects in Mexico to cow-fattening projects in Bangladesh.

This enables the women and men of these communities to increase their incomes, so that they can purchase the food they need. Promote sustainable farming practices. Local agricultural experts teach our partners how to create and manage community farms. Why doesn't the government just share some of their money. Ben Dec 2, Why aren't people generous enough to share food?!?! Hi Ben. That's a great question. Why do YOU think they don't share food? Oct 23, That's great, norah. What are you going to do to stomp out world hunger?

Thank you Sofia, Michelle, and Lillian, not to mention Wonderopolis! Apr 19, Chrissie Oct 22, This helped alot for my assesment! Thank you. Nov 12, Thanks for stopping by, Chrissie! Hannah Apr 16, Apr 16, Great question, Hannah.

One we should all be asking. Jenny May 8, It is so sad that world hunger is still hurting peoples everyday lives! I wish I could help more than just sending food to countries with no food. May 14, Oct 10, Gibson Apr 5, Apr 9, Wonder Friend Jan 17, Jan 22, We agree with you! World hunger is a terrible problem. Nov 11, Ethan Jan 17, Us, too. We hope this Wonder helps you learn more about the problems of world hunger. I think that world hunger is awful.

This article was really eye-opening. Jan 2, We agree. Thanks for stopping by to learn more about this topic, happydoll6! Dec 13,