AFGHANISTAN. NAME SCHOOL CLASS CITY, STATE SPONSORSHIP GOAL

Transcription

1 AFGHANISTAN NAME SCHOOL CLASS CITY, STATE SPONSORSHIP GOAL

2 Contents Students Race Against Hunger What are hunger and malnutrition? Scope of hunger and malnutrition in the world What is Action Against Hunger? Action Against Hunger world map How your money helps Case Study: Afghanistan Preparing for the Race Against Hunger Tips on seeking sponsors Sponsor form

3 students race against hunger! How You Will Help End Global Hunger Learn about global hunger and how to fight it. Raise awareness about global hunger in your community and seek sponsors for your Race Against Hunger. Participate in your school s Race! The proceeds you raise will help save the lives of malnourished children around the world. What Are Hunger and Malnutrition? In order to help fight global hunger, you should first know what hunger means. Hunger Results from the persistent intake of less than the daily amount of calories your body needs to be nourished and active. Famine The absolute unavailability or inaccessibility of food in a given region, possibly causing imminent death. Malnutrition A broad term for a wide range of conditions that hinder good health, caused by an inadequate or unbalanced food intake. While we tend to associate malnutrition with under-nutrition, or lack of food intake, malnutrition also includes over-nutrition, or the consumption of too much food. Obesity is a form of malnutrition. Food Security A situation during which all people, at all times, have access economically, socially and physically to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that satisfies their nutritional needs and dietary preferences. Action against HUnger 1

4 Scope of hunger and malnutrition in the world Hunger and Malnutrition Approximately 1.02 billion people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. An overwhelming majority of the world s hungry reside in the developing world. Every day, almost 15,000 children die from hunger-related causes. 19 million children under the age of 5 suffer from severe acute malnutrition, which, if left untreated, can lead to death. More than 60% of the world s chronically hungry are women. Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene More than 1 billion people lack access to a safe supply of drinking water. 2.2 billion people, or a 1/3 of the world s population, do not have access to basic sanitation facilities; 1.2 billion of these people have no facilities at all. Water-related diseases are one of the leading causes of disease and death in the world. The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water each day. The average African family uses about 5 gallons of water each day. Water-related diseases are one of the leading causes of disease and death in the world. Source: Water Partners International 2 race against hunger // passport

5 what is action against hunger? Action Against Hunger ACF-USA works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing families with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. Working in some 40 countries, ACF s humanitarian interventions provide lasting solutions to nearly 5 million people a year, restoring dignity, self-sufficiency, and independence to vulnerable populations throughout the world. Our Main Programs Nutrition Our nutrition programs treat and prevent acute malnutrition for those most vulnerable, particularly children. The programs are launched most often during times of crisis when an earthquake devastates a city, when civil war tears apart a country, when drought leads to famine, when families flee violence only to confront hunger. Food Security and Livelihoods Our food security programs prevent future outbreaks of malnutrition by helping communities rebuild their food self-sufficiency. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Our water, sanitation and hygiene programs include extending services to communities faced with water scarcity, unsafe drinking water, and poor hygiene. Depending on the context, we truck water into affected communities during emergencies, decontaminate wells, install hand-pumps, and build latrines, among other projects. Our Mission Eradicate acute malnutrition, roll back global hunger, strengthen the most vulnerable, and restore independence and self-sufficiency to families in need. Action against HUnger 3

6 action against hunger map Where Action Against Hunger Works Worldwide Can you locate each country on the map? Africa Mali Ecuador Myanmar Angola Mauritania Guatemala Nepal Burkina Faso Niger Haiti North Caucasus Central African Republic Sierra Leone Nicaragua Philippines Sudan Paraguay Sri Lanka Somalia Peru Syria Swaziland Asia Europe Uganda Afghanistan Armenia Zambia Azerbaijan Zimbabwe Middle-East Bangladesh Lebanon Kenya Americas Georgia Palestinian Territories Lesotho Argentina Indonesia Liberia Bolivia Laos Malawi Colombia Mongolia Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Guinea Ivory Coast 4 race against hunger // passport

7 How your money helps $5 $15 $35 $50 Can supply a lemon, banana, mango, or orange tree to a farming family incorporating fresh fruit into their diets, preventing soil erosion and desertification, and providing shade. (Desertification is the expansion of the arid desert due to climate change.) Could provide two under-nourished children with supplementary foods for one month to prevent malnutrition and promote healthy development. Can provide a hand pump for clean drinking water in Laos. Could provide the 30-day nutritional treatment necessary to save the life of a severely malnourished child in a therapeutic feeding center. $100 Can provide an oven, ingredients, tools, and training for a woman to start a bakery and generate income for her family, giving them access to a balanced diet, health care, and school. Before After David and Kaifa suffering from severe acute malnutrition after years of civil conflict in Sierra Leone. David and Kaifa after 30 days in Action Against Hunger s nutrition center. Action against HUnger 5

8 AFGHANISTAN CASE STUDY AFGHANISTAN Geography and Climate: Afghanistan is a small, landlocked country in South Asia bordered by Pakistan to the east, Iran to the west, and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north. With an area slightly smaller than that of Texas, Afghanistan has an arid to semi-arid climate with cold winters and hot summers. The Hindu Kush Mountains separate northern Afghanistan from the rest of the country. Modern History: Afghanistan was granted independence from the British Empire in After a brief period of democracy, the government was overthrown in 1973 and again in In 1979, the Soviet Union backed the new communist regime with resources and financial support. This relationship sparked a war between the Sovietbacked government and opposing mujahedin rebels which would last the next 22 years. In 1989, the Soviet Union withdrew forces from Afghanistan leaving Mohammad Najibullah and a Sovietsupported government in place in Afghanistan s capital, Kabul. Fighting continued between Najbullah supporters and mujahedin rebel factions. When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, Najibullah s government was severely weakened. In 1994, the government in Kabul was overthrown, and for the next two years Afghanistan was ungoverned until the Taliban, a Pakistani-sponsored group, took over in Seeking to replace anarchy with order and rid the country of regional warlords, the Taliban practiced Islamic Sharia law and sought to rule the country based on strict religious code. Until late 2001, the Taliban ruled about 90% of Afghanistan, yet was unrecognized as the legitimate government of Afghanistan throughout the international community. Following the September 11, 2009 attacks 6 race against hunger // passport

9 on the U.S., an anti-taliban alliance formed between the U.S., Britain and groups from northern Afghanistan. Accused of harboring terrorists including Osama bin Laden, the Taliban government met strong resistance from the anti- Taliban alliance as well as from opposing factions within Afghanistan. This continued confrontation eventually led to the collapse of the Taliban at the end of In 2001, the United Nations-sponsored Bonn Conference established a process for political reconstruction that included a new Afghanistan constitution, presidential elections in 2004 and the installation of a National Assembly, a central lawmaking body to govern Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai was declared the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan in 2004, and the National Assembly was put in place in December of Even though the new constitution was an important step towards political stability, regional conflicts and a continued Taliban presence in the country remain serious challenges for the Afghanistan government. (Continued on following page) Basic Facts Location: South Asia President: Hamid Karzai Government: Islamic Republic Capital: Kabul Official Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari and Pashto Population: 28.4 million Climate: Arid to semi-arid; cold winters and hot summers Life Expectancy: years Adult Literacy Rate: 28% Area: km² Afghanistan Ghor Kabul Dai-Kundi Pakistan Our Programs Water & Sanitation Nutrition Food Security Health Source: CIA Fact Book, 2009; UNICEF, 2007 Action against HUnger 7

10 Continued from previous page Humanitarian Situation: Due to 25 years of conflict, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire, with more than 5 million people dependent on humanitarian aid each day and approximately 4 million Afghan refugees currently living in Pakistan and Iran. 60% of children under the age of 5 are malnourished, 32% of the population does not have access to sanitary water, and 71.9% of the population cannot read or write. A majority of the country currently lives on less than one dollar per day. Due to limited possibilities for economic development, the reconstruction process has been slow and the political system and infrastructure remain unstable. In recent years, with frequent attempts by the Taliban to regain control in Afghanistan, there has been an increase in armed conflict and political instability Years of successive drought and other environmental disasters have left Afghanistan with inadequate resources. In southern Afghanistan, 80% of the kareze, underwater aqueducts used for irrigation, have dried up. Due to changing climate patterns the land is becoming drier and less fertile, making it much more difficult for farmers to raise livestock and cultivate crops. Many farmers are being driven to cultivate poppy, which has proven strong against drought, but offers no nutritional value. Given that 80% of the country s 28.4 million people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture, the country s nutritional issues are being further compounded as drought continues to devastate crops. Earthquakes, avalanches and floods are also common environmental disasters in Afghanistan, destroying infrastructure and taking lives each year. Most recently, there was an earthquake 90 kilometers from Kabul which registered a 5.5 on the magnitude scale; 22 people were killed, 30 injured, and over 200 homes destroyed. Political instability and natural disasters continue to plague Afghanistan, leaving the humanitarian situation unstable. Source: IRIN News, 2009 Action Against Hunger s Presence in Afghanistan In 1979, Action Against Hunger ACF- USA was founded to respond to the emergency in Afghanistan during the civil war between the Soviet-back government and opposition rebel groups. Security concerns led to a brief hiatus in ACF s Afghanistan programs after the 1979 crisis, but programs reopened in 1995 and ACF has had a continued presence in the country since. Nutrition ACF detects and treats acute, severe and moderate malnutrition by taking care of children in nutritional centers. Food Security & Livelihoods In order to support agricultural production and the diversification of sources of income for families, ACF implements food security programs such as the distribution of seeds, fertilizers and tools to prepare the land for the winter months and revenue-generating activities in urban areas. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene To provide increased accessibility to drinking water in communities, ACF constructs and rehabilitates wells and reservoirs. ACF staff members also work with communities to construct latrines and organize hygiene education sessions. 8 race against hunger // passport

11 Preparing for the Race Against Hunger! Tips for seeking sponsors The money you raise for the Race Against Hunger will go a long way in saving the lives of malnourished children around the world. Here are some tips for seeking sponsors for your Race: Approach people you know and trust. Family members make enthusiastic sponsors! Neighborhood businesses and restaurants are great potential sponsors. Seek sponsors from your community/youth group or place of worship. Don t seek sponsors in neighborhoods you are unfamiliar with. Sponsors can pledge a certain amount of money for each lap you run (i.e. $2/lap), or they can make a flat donation. If your sponsor is writing a check, make sure the check is made out to Action Against Hunger. Important talking points Global hunger and malnutrition claim the lives of approximately 5 million children a year. Action Against Hunger ACF-USA is an international aid organization working to save the lives of malnourished children and to prevent malnutrition altogether. The Race Against Hunger aims to raise awareness about the scourge of global hunger and to encourage students and communities to be a part of the solution. 89 cents of every dollar raised will directly benefit ACF s life-saving work around the world. No donation is too little! Each dollar raised goes a long way in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. (See page 7: How your money helps.) Donations are tax-deductible. No donation is too little! Donations are taxdeductible. Action against HUnger 9

12 the race against hunger sponsor form All money raised will support our efforts to carry out innovative, lifesaving programs in nutrition, food security & livelihoods, and water, sanitation & hygiene in 40 countries around the world. Your sponsorship will help us continue to reach some 5 million people each year. Name of Participant: teacher: School Name: Date of Race: Full Name Home Address Pledge Per Lap / Flat Donation Initial When Collected Please make checks out to Action Against Hunger. Total Amount Raised Action Against Hunger is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that has received top marks from rating agencies like the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, The American Institute of Philanthropy, and Guidestar. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. To learn more about our programs and activities, please visit our website at Thank You For Your Support!