On October 16, CARE joined the United Nations and the rest of the international community in observing World Food Day 2002 by renewing our commitment to fight hunger and poverty in the world’s poorest communities.

This year, World Food Day is focusing special attention on water, an essential but finite resource. Escalating competition for water — between, for example, agricultural and industrial sectors and urban and rural centers — is leaving many poor families and farmers faced with a mounting scarcity of fresh water. With 800 million people going to bed hungry each night, it is more important than ever that we take steps to preserve and improve access to the world’s water resources.

I recently returned from a visit to Malawi, where unrelenting drought, widespread HIV/AIDS and other complex factors have pushed many families to the brink of survival. Lack of sufficient water has had devastating effects on crop production. However, my hope was buoyed by my stop in Simpha village, where CARE has helped farmers establish irrigation systems with astonishing results. In the midst of widespread drought, effective irrigation has enabled poor families to expand the size of their plots, introduce new crops and improve productivity. These men and women expect to have enough food to feed their families this year and are eager to expand and build on their success.

With small victories like the ones I witnessed in Simpha, CARE is helping people to realize their basic human rights — including the rights to clean water and sufficient and nutritious food. In doing so, we address root causes of poverty and advance our vision of a world in which we all live in dignity and security.

Peter

Click here to read about CARE'S 2002 World Hunger Campaign.

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