When disasters strike, it’s important to help communities in need. Events like natural disasters and war can leave millions of people without the food they need – by wiping out food supplies or spoiling the food and water that remain.
As a result, people in these communities struggle to access food and clean water in times of crisis. Providing food and support in these critical moments can save lives, which is why as part of our Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative, Herbalife Nutrition has pledged $1 million to World Food Program USA (WFP USA) to help address this problem.
The donation, to be paid over three years, will be designated to WFP USA’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides food and lifesaving support to people in need at the onset of a disaster or emergency.
Sending Healthy Food in Response to Emergencies
WFP USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the U.S. WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.
A critical way in which WFP fights hunger is through emergency relief. From hurricanes and cyclones to outbreaks of conflict and drought, WFP responds immediately, delivering humanitarian aid and food to nearly 90 million people suffering from hunger in more than 80 countries each year.
Hurricane Dorian was a recent example. Approximately 76,000 people in the Bahamas required urgent food assistance. WFP responded by arranging distribution of eight tons of ready-to-eat meals to survivors. Around 80 percent of WFP’s time and resources are allocated to crisis zones.
A Global-Scale Solution to the Hunger Problem
Food security is one of the most important responses concerning the management of natural disasters. But it is an issue framed in a much wider problem: rising global hunger and malnutrition.
The number of people facing chronic food deprivation has increased to nearly 820 million in 2018 and expected to reach more than 2 billion in 2050, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Additionally, 1 in 3 people globally suffer from some form of malnutrition, and nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five are attributed to undernutrition.
According to Phil Karsting, Interim President and CEO of WFP USA, “In the last four years, hunger has been on the rise, driven largely by increased conflict and extreme weather. That’s why support from partners like Herbalife Nutrition is critical to helping us achieve our mission to end global hunger.”
The Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative, with the assistance of non-governmental organization partners, focuses on providing access to healthy foods, improving nutrition education, identifying sustainable food resources and raising awareness of the global crisis. The initiative aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal number two of Zero Hunger, which calls for bold action to end hunger in all its forms by 2030, as well as solutions to achieve food security and improve nutrition worldwide.
Our partnership with WFP USA allows us to tackle a very specific aspect of food insecurity, working to make sure everyone – even amidst emergencies – has access to nutritious food.
Erin Richards-KunkelSr. Director, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility
Erin leads the development and execution of global partnerships and corporate social responsibility initiatives for Herbalife Nutrition. Her background combines analytical and creative expertise with degrees in both biological sciences and journalism from the University of California, Davis and the University of Southern California respectively. Her love of storytelling, science, and social good comes together in her approach for engagement and holistic campaign strategy and development.