Editorial: Hunger is increasing, our Christian family remains in need

The 2022 Global Hunger Index, published on 13 October by humanitarian groups Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, outlined once again the scale of the global food crisis. 

As a result of “a barrage of crises” – conflict, natural disasters, the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic – hunger is increasing in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

At least 828 million people are undernourished – that is, they “lack regular access to sufficient calories” – a situation that is “an indicator of chronic hunger”.

Of these, 345 million are “facing acute food insecurity” and 50 million are “teetering on the edge of famine”.

Five of the nine countries with hunger levels ranked as “Alarming” or “Serious” by the Global Hunger Index – Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and South Sudan – are Christian-majority nations

Of the other four – Chad, Somalia, Syria and Yemen – all have Christian minorities of various sizes. In Somalia and Yemen believers are likely to suffer severe persecution alongside hunger and poverty.

Through our food.gives initiative, and other projects, Barnabas Aid is hard at work helping our suffering brothers and sisters in these desperately impoverished parts of the world.

We have been able to send, for example, three containers of food and other practical aid to the Middle East for Christian refugees from Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Yet the need remains acute. Humanly speaking it is unlikely that the ongoing hunger crisis will recede before the end of the decade. “The present global food crisis may become one of the worst disasters ever to face humanity,” says Barnabas Aid International Director Dr Patrick Sookhdeo.

Can you help us to continue caring for our suffering Christian family around the world?

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Visit food.gives to find out more about how you or your church can donate towards sending food or other practical aid for Christians in lands of poverty and persecution.