Bodmann: “It is an injustice that screams to heaven: every 10th person suffers from hunger.” Bell ringing as a signal against global hunger on Friday, July 26th, 3 p.m. throughout Austria.
Vienna (OTS) – Alexander Bodmann, Vice President of Caritas Austria, describes the increase in global hunger as one of the most dramatic developments of the last few decades: “It is a blatant injustice that the number of hungry people has fallen for 20 years and has now been rising again for some time .” 783 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger. This means that significantly more people are currently suffering from chronic hunger than before the corona pandemic. Hunger currently affects 9.2 percent of the world’s population, compared to 7.9 percent before the pandemic. That’s 87 times as many people as live in the whole of Austria. The climate crisis is making the situation dramatically worse. Bodmann: “With the annual bell ringing against hunger, we want to draw attention to this scandal. We must not forget the millions of people directly affected by hunger. We have to fight for their future, for our common future, without hunger. A world without hunger is possible!”
Hunger is increasing across Africa
While there is progress in parts of Asia and Latin America, the situation in the Gaza Strip is dramatic, but hunger is also continuing to increase in the Caribbean and throughout Africa, said Andreas Knapp, Secretary General of Foreign Aid at Caritas Austria: “In Africa it is now Every fifth person is affected by hunger.” Climate shocks destroy livelihoods, crops and thus the ability of people to feed themselves, continues Knapp, who was recently able to get an idea of the situation on the ground in South Sudan: “The rain is getting less and less every year When it rains, increasingly severe and unpredictable floods follow. The floods destroy vital crops and livestock die. As a result, there is a lack of food, clean water, health care and much more.” In South Sudan, 56 percent of the population is affected by food insecurity. One in ten children does not reach the age of five, and a large part of the population struggles with lifelong health consequences.
It’s a race against time, says Knapp: “The problem is not just the extremely high food prices themselves, but that they also make humanitarian aid more expensive.” 122 million more people were affected by food insecurity in 2023 than in 2019, Knapp warns: “If the trend is not reversed quickly, the United Nations’ goal of ending global hunger by 2030 will soon be unattainable. And it’s not about a number, but about children, women and men who suffer from chronic hunger and its effects.”
Join in the ringing of the bells!
Caritas Vice President Alexander Bodmann sees it as a clear shared responsibility to create more climate justice for the global south: “The largest share of greenhouse gas emissions is caused by rich industrialized countries. At the same time, the poorest countries are hit hardest by the effects. It is therefore up to the main polluters not only to drastically reduce their CO2 emissions, but also to support those most affected in adapting to the consequences of climate change, dealing with damage and making the transition to a climate-neutral economy and society. “
The aim of the bell ringing is to create a shared sense of responsibility for this injustice and to call for commitment in the fight against hunger and the climate crisis: “It is a question of willingness and the associated political decisions to end global hunger. This is exactly what we want to draw attention to with the ringing of the bell. Both the resources and the knowledge to end hunger exist.”
We would therefore be happy to receive any support when it comes to ringing bells, whether with a bicycle bell or a cowbell. If you want to draw attention to the campaign via social media, you can, for example, post a video of your own ringing or the local church bell #BellsAgainstHunger.
Caritas: We help against hunger
Caritas in Austria is already implementing a variety of measures to combat hunger. In acute emergency situations, people are provided with food packages, clean drinking water and cash aid. We help particularly vulnerable groups to survive – for example by providing care for malnourished small children in baby feeding centers, daily hot meals for older children in schools or with women’s group projects. We ensure sustainable building of climate resilience within communities – for example with training in sustainable agriculture, with the provision of local, adapted seeds and support in the safe storage of the harvest. Last but not least, Caritas advocates for climate justice on both a national and international level. Our goal as an organization is to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Help us help!
With 50 Euro particularly vulnerable families receive Food packages (millet, lentils, oil, salt). This means that a family of five – depending on the region – can cover their basic needs for two to four weeks.
First Bank | IBAN: AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560 | BIC: GIBAATWWXXX | Password: Future without hunger or donate online at www.caritas.at/hunger
Questions & Contact:
Caritas Austria
Tina Newertal
Head of Public Relations & Press Spokesperson
+43 676 7804589
tina.newertal@caritas-austria.at
www.caritas.at