Global Food Crisis

The soaring food prices associated with the Global Food Crisis are causing significant stress in countries all over the world as more and more people are being pushed into poverty.  This includes more than 4 billion people with low incomes living in the 58 least-wealthy countries of the world.  Serious food riots have taken place in Haiti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Indonesia as people react to the debilitating realities of increased food instability and malnutrition.  MCC has a long history of work in areas of food security and food injustice, and works in direct food assistance, water projects, and agricultural support.  The overwhelming and immediate needs of people facing, on a global average, a 40% increase in the price of the food they need to survive are stretching MCC to the limit. 

            MCC is responding to dire need in Ethiopia where the rising food costs have been further compounded by drought, as the yearly belg rains have failed. MCC’s large scale response to the urgent situation in has resulted in the depletion of MCC’s Food Account with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for the first time in 10 years.  MCC, at the request of its Ethiopian partners, and in response to such obvious need, has begun a 2.5 million dollar response, however this exceeds the area budget by 1.5 million dollars.  MCC is appealing to its constituents to help make up this shortfall and empower MCC to perform the work that is required. 

      Food prices in Ethiopia have increased by 68% in the past year.  According to the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), the official number of people seriously effected by the drought is 4.7 million, but unofficial reports may up to twice that high. MCC has been aware of the potential for disaster in Ethiopia and was able to purchase maize locally and ship Canadian wheat to protect 11,600 of the most vulnerable households and 16,300 malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.  This work was done in cooperation with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and the Meserete Kristos Church Relief and Development Association, a long time partner organization of MCC.  MCC is also assisting 3,600 farmers affected by an infestation of army worms, by helping them re-seed haricot beans and potato cuttings.  These efforts to prevent suffering and starvation among the people of Ethiopia are vitally important.  Please consider contributing to this work.

Donate Now

what is mcc doing