Millions are at risk of starvation

The number of people living on the edge of food emergency has rocketed to 220 million.

The world's poorest are paying a high price for the international aid system's failure to address factors keeping them in chronic poverty.

With food price rises adding to the problem many people just don’t have enough to eat.

What can be done?

CARE International is warning that millions in emergency aid will be wasted responding to emergencies that could be prevented, unless the following recommendations are heeded:

• Donors must meet existing aid commitments, and then deliver significant new funds to meet the specific needs of the 100 million newly hungry.
  
  
• Aid money must focus on disaster risk reduction, investing in food production and providing long-term safety nets to prevent the poorest falling over the edge into starvation.
  
  
• The international aid system, including the UN must bridge the divide between emergency and development, ensuring that aid responses are better coordinated, avoid gaps and duplications and provide early and adequate funding.