ORGANIZATIONS

Due to the effects of hunger and famine there are many organizations to help those in need, many of which are international.

United States Agency for International Development Famine Early Warning System

The US Agency for International Development Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) is an information system intended to help decision makers prevent famine in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Mission Statement is "To provide host country and US resolution makers with timely and accurate information on potential famine areas." FEWS helps to improve the understanding of the basic causes and circumstances of famine, detect changes that create serious famine risks, and determine appropriate famine mitigations and prevention strategies. This organization is a good tool in the search for the solution to famines.

The Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began with an effort to better care for soldiers who were wounded during time of war, however since then the organization has grown into a group that is active during peace time as well. The Red Cross currently has programs set up to help people afflicted by major disasters such as earthquakes, medical epidemics, famines, and floods. The Red Cross was founded by Swiss philanthropist Jean Henri Dunant and the first international conference of the Red Cross was held in Geneva, Switzerland in October of 1863. Since then the ICRC has been awarded four Nobel Peace Prizes and has over one million volunteers supporting its various causes.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The FAO is a specialized agency whose main goal is to create more freedom from hunger on a worldwide scale. The specific objectives of the agency are "raising levels of nutrition and standards of living and securing improvements in the efficiency of the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products."(FAO Constitution) The FAO originated at a conference called by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in May, 1943. The 49 member council meets at conferences to monitor the world food situation and suggest necessary action. The bureau collects, analyzes, and distributes information about nutrition, food, and agriculture. The FAO organized the World Food Conference in 1974, and because of recommendations made at the conference, the FAO increased its information-gathering services to facilitate improved worldwide food security. The FAO continues to be a positive force in the fight against hunger.

The World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is an agency of the United Nations, with headquarters in Geneva. The WHO is mainly involved with curing diseases however it also researches the physical affects of lack of nutrition on people.

UNICEF

While the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is an integral part of the United Nations, it is also somewhat autonomous. UNICEF identifies the needs of children and tries to address those needs with the help of individuals, families, communites and governments. UNICEF is a popular and well known organization that helps children, some of whom live in hunger stricken countries.