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Hi everyone -


Per the discussion at the board meeting, here is the first of what will be a monthly update on the latest news in global hunger.


As you can imagine, there is unlimited information on hunger, so I welcome your feedback as to what you'd like to see included here.


Looking forward to your thoughts,

Erin


HIGHLIGHT: Our Social Media Editor, Aliya Karim, published this week a long-form piece on Medium.com about WFP's school meals program in Bhutan<https://medium.com/@WFPUSA/harvesting-love-in-bhutan-the-last-shangri-la-792e6e9e3b07#.mxksuxx1r>.

The Head of WFP's Office in Bhutan was so appreciative of the program's exposure that they pitched it to their daily newspaper for publication (see attached) on International School Meals Day (which was yesterday)!


General Global Hunger #'s:

* The number of hungry people in the world has dropped to 795 million -- or one person in every nine -- a 21% reduction since the early 1990s.


* Two billion people are estimated to be deficient in at least one or more micronutrients. The most commonly recognized micronutrient deficiencies across all ages are caused by a lack of iron, zinc, vitamin A and iodine.


* Malnutrition affects 1 in 2 people on the planet. Of these: 165 million children under the age of five are estimated to be stunted.


* As much as 5% of GDP -- equivalent to $500 per person -- is lost due to productivity and direct healthcare costs.


Key WFP Facts:

* WFP global assessed requirements for 2016: $8.6 billion to provide 19.7 billion daily rations for 82 million people in 76 countries.


* Contributions in 2015: $5.1 billion, the 2nd highest in history.


* Logistical power: On any given day, 5,000 trucks, 70 aircraft and 20 ships are delivering food across the globe.


* WFP staff: More than 14,000 worldwide and nearly 90% work in the field.


What's New:

* Introduction of WFP's Iris Scan Payment System in Jordan<https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/world-food-programme-uses-innovative-iris-scan-technology-provide-food-assistance->: Using new iris scan technology, for the first time in the history of WFP operations, Syrians living in a refugee camp in Jordan are able to buy the food they are entitled to in the blink of an eye using iris scan technology. The user simply looks in a lens that scans their iris and deducts the value of their purchase from their credit. WFP is currently looking to expand the use of its iris scan payment system to support refugees living in all Syrian refugee camps in Jordan.


* WFP Restores Full Rations to Syrian People Thanks to $675 Million in New Funding<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/world/middleeast/syria-united-nations-says-food-aid-will-be-restored.html?ref=topics&_r=0>: Funds pledged during the "Supporting Syria and the Region Conference" in London in February will allow WFP to fully reinstate its food assistance to Syrian refugees until the end of the year, and enable WFP to provide a full food basket to families inside Syria from April until October 2016.


* The Food Situation in Central African Republic is Dire<https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/families-central-african-republic-food-situation-dire>: New report shows massive price hikes and crop production far below pre-crisis levels. Half of the population faces hunger. Boosting agriculture now is crucial to revitalizing the economy and to stability in the country.


* A Slow-Motion Disaster in Ethiopia: Historic drought is sweeping Ethiopia and causing harvest failure across the country. As a result, more than 10 million Ethiopians have been pushed into hunger. On WFP USA's latest "Hacking Hunger" podcast<https://soundcloud.com/user-486346131/episode-4-a-slow-motion-disaster-in-ethiopia-1>, we talk with two humanitarians based in Ethiopia -- John Aylieff from WFP and Dianna Darsney de Salcedo from USAID -- to hear how families are coping with one of the worst droughts in decades.


· New WFP USA Video: "Harvesting Hope for the Future"<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6_DHL9BcdY>: In honor of International School Meals Day -- March 3 -- we released a new film that talks about the transformative effect that school meals -- and more importantly, home-grown school meals -- can have on children. Please take a moment to watch and share.

Erin Cochran
Vice President, Communications

[cid:image003.png@01CEB391.849D1540]<http://usa.wfp.org/>

1725 I Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006
202.627.3931 Direct * 202.627.3737 Main * 202.510.6200 Cell
ecochran@wfpusa.org<mailto:ecochran@wfpusa.org> * www.wfpusa.org<http://www.wfpusa.org/>