HUNGER

Yohannes, a 5-year-old Ethiopian child, was screened for malnourishment and ultimately admitted to Save the Children's feeding program based on a variety of tests including his height, weight, and a measurement of his mid upper arm circumference. Credit: Save the Children/Kelley Lynch.

The global impact of soaring food prices is spreading and for some of the world’s poorest children they’re going from being hungry to facing possible starvation under worsening conditions.

In some areas of Ethiopia, drought has complicated matters and put large numbers of children and their families at risk for severe malnutrition. Malnutrition rates here are already alarmingly high, and the government estimates that some 4.5 million people are in need of emergency food assistance.

The poorest households are now resorting to drastic actions to meet their food needs. Families are pulling children from school because they cannot afford both food and school fees. Many children must now go to work. There’s little money for child health care, and some are selling key productive assets like farm animals, equipment and tools. These choices have long-term effects and risk setting back the significant strides we have made in the areas of education, child health and child survival for these children.

Save the Children is helping in Ethiopia by currently focusing on six of the worst-affected areas with life-saving, high-energy foods being distributed through emergency feeding centers. Tens of thousands of children could die if they do not receive such immediate emergency treatment.

We need your help to reach 900,000 people in Ethiopia, including 325,000 children and others around the world, who are bearing the brunt of this global food crisis.

Your donation will support Save the Children’s immediate and long-term response to the global food crisis in countries around the world.

Save the Children's long-term programs also play a critical role in mitigating the food crisis. Save the Children mobilizes communities and partner organizations to address the root causes of food insecurity. We work with children and their communities to develop their capacity to respond to and solve their most pressing food security, along with hunger and malnutrition problems.

Please respond as quickly and generously as you possibly can. There’s no time to waste. The children need our help right now. Donate now.

On behalf of the children,



Charles MacCormack
President and CEO
Save the Children