Friday, March 5, 2010

Hunger in Honduras

I'm not an expert, but I've been trying to learn more about Honduras and some of the struggles the people there are facing.  Roughly 36% of the population live in extreme poverty (less than $1.25/day).  Most of these people (about 80% of the extreme poor) live in rural areas.  The reason for such a concentration of poverty in rural areas is the lack of good farm land.  Most families do not have enough land to support their family and earn a living.

I learned that child malnutrition is as prevalent in Central America as it is in Africa and South Asia.  What was interesting though, is that it isn't because of lack of food.  Rather, malnutrition is usually caused by a combination of factors such as poor maternal health, inappropriate infant care and feeding practices, and lack of access to safe water and sanitation.  I always assumed that the main cause of malnutrition was just lack of food and clean water.

Having never really been out of the US, I am anxious to see what life is like in Honduras.  I have a feeling that it will be the most humbling, powerful experience I will ever have had.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting the info about hunger issues specifically for Honduras.
    I know this experience will be very humbling and powerful and amazing and heartbreaking. It will be important for us to be in prayer that these feelings won't paralyze us but will spur us on to do good works and draw us closer to God.

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  2. Having found a brownie tossed on the floor of the school bus after a junior high trip I wonder how many our own children realize just how lucky they are?

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