In the coming week, as many will gather to give thanks for abundance and blessings, it is important that we consider those among us and around the world who face increased scarcity and hunger that has been brought on or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have not yet fully witnessed the full impact that the pandemic has had on our communities in the areas of poverty and hunger. Reports show that in 2020 alone, about one-tenth of the global population (or about 811 million people) went undernourished and 13.9 million children are projected to suffer from malnourishment by next year. The needs are urgent and multifaceted. In Afghanistan, for example, more than half its population will experience extreme food insecurity this year if more is not done. As a global community, we are falling short of pledges to end hunger in our lifetime. We must do more.
As Christians, we are called to extend generosity and offer our voices in advocacy as a witness to our faith and love of neighbor. Today, we can offer our voices in support of a bipartisan bill recently introduced in the Senate called the “Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021” (S.2956). This bill, which was already introduced in the House as H.R. 4693, would prioritize addressing malnutrition across global health and other food systems, require robust monitoring, and authorize USAID to advance specifically targeted programs to prevent and treat malnutrition.
As a nation of plenty, we can and must do more to ensure that all are provided basic nutrition and dignity. Passage of this legislation would ultimately save lives and highlight ways that working for the common good can overcome partisan divides.