Global Update: Hunger Amidst COVID-19

Dearly Beloved,

According to the United Nations, “More than 820 million people regularly go to bed hungry, and 135 million out of this number suffers acute hunger largely due to man-made conflicts, climate change, and economic downturns.” The United Nations also indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has now doubled that number putting an additional 130 million people at risk of suffering acute hunger by the end of 2020, according to the World Food Program. The United Nations also emphasized that with more than a quarter of people potentially at the brink of starvation, swift action must be taken to provide food and humanitarian relief to the most at-risk regions.

The question then is, how can there be a lack of food in the world of abundant supply to the point of wastage? After all, individuals, families, organizations, restaurants, and hospitals around the world will throw away $1 trillion worth of food in 2020, enough to feed one in every four people on this planet. While millions live every day with the reality of hunger, affluent nations in the West still waste enormous amounts of food, even though almost 40 million Americans including, 11 million children, were labeled “food insecure” in 2018, compounding the extent of secretive
hunger even in wealthy countries. (World Food Program)

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has sent unemployment skyrocketing among the poorest of the poor in the underserved nations without safety nets such as unemployment interventions or stimulus checks to head-off hunger. Compounded by the deadly COVID-19, an enormous number of people died and will continue to die of malnourishment, healthcare insecurities, food insecurities, and even the fear of not surviving from the impact of COVID-19.

During these unprecedented times, GRA Mission Squad continues to feed the hungry and the poor across East and West Africa through our COVID-19 Food Relief program. We hope to extend this program to other parts of Africa and Asia continents. Millions are scavenging to survive and are extremely anxious about when their continuous traumatic sufferings will be put to a halt. The magnitude of this problem can sometimes be overwhelming and discouraging to the GRA Mission Squad team because the people’s demand keeps increasing.

Our Relief program has been able to provide nutritional food to alleviate the sufferings of thousands of people facing starvation regardless of age, gender, skin color, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and economic or social standing. GRA Mission Squad also continues to provide free health- checks, drinkable water, clothing, shoes, and, most importantly, the gospel of salvation to individuals, families, remote villages, and communities in Africa and Asia nations.

We strongly believe that one person can make a difference. According to Mother Teresa, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Friends, it is as simple as the words of Jesus, “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat,” and to that lawyer, Jesus proclaimed, “Go and do likewise.” God bless you as you become a part of those who will go and do the Samaritan work.