Poverty
Peter Caton
Action Against Hunger, Ethiopia
Poverty Drives Hunger
Around the world, 648 million people live in extreme poverty. They survive on less than $2.15 a day, an amount which is impossible to support a healthy livelihood in any part of the world.
Without sufficient and sustainable incomes, families cannot afford access to nutritious food, clean water, or health care. As a result, one in three children in low- and middle-income countries suffers from chronic undernutrition. Without treatment, hunger can lead to stunted growth, limited mental and emotional development, and even death.
No child should die from hunger. Action Against Hunger helped 28 million people last year gain access to sustainable sources of income, clean water, nutritious food, and health care – but there is still so much to be done to end poverty and hunger for everyone, for good.
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Half of the World's Poorest People Live in Five Countries: Bangladesh, DRC, Ethiopia, India, and Nigeria
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Average Proportion of Income Spent on Food in Poor Countries vs. 25% in Rich Countries
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Children Living in Extreme Poverty Around the World
The Rising Cost of a Healthy Diet
More than 3 billion people in the world are unable to afford the average cost of an inexpensive healthy diet. In both wealthy and poor countries, insufficient incomes to meet rising cost of nutritious foods can have serious impacts. Consumption of low quality foods can lead to malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and other health problems.
What Causes Hunger?
Inequity
Power determines who eats and who goes hungry, who lives and who dies.
Climate Change
The climate crisis is driving hunger and malnutrition around the world.
Conflict
Seventy-five percent of the world’s malnourished people live in conflict zones.
Disaster & Emergencies
Humanitarian emergencies disrupt and destroy livelihoods for millions of people.
How We Fight Hunger
To fight hunger, we help families living in poverty access incomes, livelihoods, and nutritious food.
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