Child Hunger Crisis Worse Than Ever, Says Save the Children, as October 16 "World Food Day" Approaches

WESTPORT, CT, Oct 08 (MARKET WIRE) --
Although food prices have dropped from last year's record highs, fallout
from the financial crisis is driving an increasing number of children
into hunger, says Save the Children.

"We're not seeing the number of food price protests we saw last year, but
a deceptive calm masks the fact that more children than ever are
confronting chronic hunger and severe malnutrition," said Charles
MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children, the international
humanitarian agency.

Save the Children is addressing increased cases of chronic and severe
malnutrition around the world, while working to strengthen parents'
long-term ability to support families. For the first time, more than 1
billion people are chronically hungry, according to the U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization.

Although wealthy nations see signs of economic recovery, many low-income
countries don't -- with food prices still historically high and the
economic crisis stifling investment and remittances. The World Bank
estimates 89 million more people will fall into extreme poverty by the end
of 2010. Severe weather patterns are also destroying families' crops and
forcing them to sell assets.

As poor families lose resources, a healthy diet for children quickly
becomes out of reach. Food typically consumes 50 to 70 percent of poor
families' income, compared to 5 to 10 percent for U.S. families.

When children -- especially those under 2 -- don't get the nutrients they
need, they may suffer permanent damage to physical and intellectual
growth. Malnutrition is also the underlying cause of 3 million child
deaths each year. The lost potential of the next generation undermines
economic development in the countries that need it most.

October 16 is World Food Day. Save the Children experts can discuss
current food crises in Guatemala, East Africa, and elsewhere, and the
comprehensive strategy needed to address hunger worldwide. The agency
calls on world leaders to quickly implement a promised $22 billion global
food security initiative.

Save the Children (http://www.savethechildren.org) is the leading
independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need
in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a
member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network
of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the
well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries.

Contact:
Tanya Weinberg
Cell: 202.247.6610
tweinberg@savechildren.org

Colleen Sutton
Cell: 703.203.7843
csutton@savechildren.org

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-