Food insecurity and the resulting suffering is a fact of life for 450,000 people in Mauritania. The World Food Program warns that funding deficiencies affect the most vulnerable families.  In December, 150,000 school children lost the certainty of at least one meal when school meals were suspended.  The World Food Program reports that malnutrition in Mauritania was 14% in June 2015.  Says UNICEF Country Representative Souleymane Diabaté:  “The number of children affected by malnutrition might increase even more this year, a situation requiring additional funding of $2 million to cope with.” (See: “UN Agencies Warn of Funding Gaps as 450,000 Mauritanians Face Food Insecurity.”)

The clarion call to close the hunger gap through increased funding is out. Food security, good nutrition, and reduction of food waste are priorities of global citizens in coming together to eradicate hunger, a fundamental human rights goal.

For more stories, see: “Food for Thought on World Food Day,” “Let There Be Bread”
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