The price of bread in Zimbabwe has doubled since the conflict in Ukraine began.
A loaf of bread now costs more than $2 – this in a country where the average household income is estimated at $2.50 per day.
The impact of tensions in Eastern Europe began to be felt in Zimbabwe six months ago, and has since worsened.
In February 2022 Barnabas sent 30 metric tons of ePap – a porridge (like oatmeal) containing protein, vitamins and nutrients – for the emergency feeding of 7,889 school students in Zimbabwe. Other food.gives ePap deliveries to Zimbabwe have ranged from 51 to 81 metric tons – each one enough to provide vital nourishment to thousands of people.
Tafadzwa Musarara, chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, said, “As early as November last year, we were unable to load wheat from that region because political tensions had gone high, and insurers revoked their coverages.
“This is a supplier who was supplying us with good wheat,” he added, “accounting for 65% of the wheat that we need.”
Burkina Faso is another land where thousands face food insecurity, malnutrition and starvation.
In addition to the situation in Ukraine, agriculture and food supply have been disrupted by the increase in jihadi violence across the West African Sahel.
These are just two countries affected by a worldwide food crisis that seems to be getting worse every week.
At times the bad news can appear overwhelming – but for us it should be a call to action, not to despair. When Joseph received through Pharaoh’s dream the Lord’s warning of a seven-year famine that was to strike Egypt and the surrounding lands, he immediately made plans to respond (Genesis 41:33-36).
We do not have the promise of “seven years of great abundance” (Genesis 41:29) before the food shortages begin – they are already affecting millions of people – but most Christians in the West do indeed enjoy “great abundance,” especially in comparison to our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Through our food.gives and medical.gives initiatives, Barnabas is sending food, medical supplies and practical aid from lands of abundance to some of the most impoverished regions of the world.
Please visit https://food.gives to find out how you can help.
