Public urged to sign petition to tackle the leading cause of global hunger – conflict

The Irish humanitarian organisation’s Nothing Kills Like Hunger campaign was launched in September 2021 to appeal to global leaders to take the urgent action needed to save lives as levels of conflict-driven hunger around the world continue to rise.

A central part of the campaign is an open letter calling on global leaders to prevent and end conflict, assist those affected, and demand greater accountability for those using starvation as a weapon of war.

To date almost 10,700 people have signed the open letter which will be delivered to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York on October 20, marking World Food Day – a reminder that 828 million people are facing hunger today.

Concern Worldwide CEO Dominic MacSorley urged the public to sign the petition:  “This campaign is a platform to tell the stories of young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Somalia, whose lives are affected by both conflict and deepening hunger. While global hunger is finally dominating debate at the UN General Assembly this week, much more needs to be done.”

Today in the capital, legendary Dublin footballer Michael Darragh MacAuley and poet, performer, and playwright Felispeaks added their support to the campaign by taking part in a photo call highlighting the impact conflict has on food prices for some of the some of the world’s poorest people.  

Concern collectors will also run bucket collections in Dublin city centre today seeking public donations to help fund Concern’s work in countries experiencing conflict. 

Conflict forces people to leave their homes and livelihoods, disrupts food transportation systems, and destroys crops, food reserves, and livestock. In conflict zones around the world, hunger is sometimes weaponised by warring parties, who deliberately destroy crops and livestock, and deny entire communities access to food.

Currently, 50 million people around the world are on the brink of famine – more than 10 times the entire population of Ireland. Climate change is increasingly a factor,  especially in East Africa. But conflict remains the single biggest driver of hunger around the world.

The petition can be signed at Act.concern.net. The closing date for signatures is October 16.

For media queries contact Eamon Timmins, Media Relations Manager, Concern Worldwide, at [email protected] or 087 9880524