Hunger in the New Millenium

In CNN's feature on "Hunger" African journalist Sorious Samura goes for five weeks without food as he investigates famine in a special documentary. It was an eye opener and reminds us that after the "We are the World" albums and "Live Aid" concerts, long after we pat our backs for doing our utmost for the starving in Africa, there remains a lot of people whose hunger and plight we can only imagine but never understand.

Here's my tapas - with the millions being raised each year in aid of hunger, I wonder what proportion of these reach its intended destinations? Is there a way to ensure that more of the aid finds its way to the hungry instead of the greedy along the by-ways? How can these aid be used to generate more wealth in a system that would offers more than short term relief? If middlemen are required to transport the food for example, why not make it mandatory for the company providing the service to hire at least largely from among those they intend to help? Surely they would be cheaper, and over time even more durable?

Let's go one step further, companies that maintain a high ratio will be given repeated business and sponsored programs to improve the quality of their workforce. Could the money be used with longer term strategic milestones in mind? I do not have the figures, but I am sure that pilferage and wastage would have accounted for a lot. Take this and multiply it along the supply chain and what proportion losses are we talking about? Could a part of the money, for example, be used by the relief centers to implement better inventory management using technologies like RFID for example?

I know the rationale mind will question the wisdom in diverting funds from their intended purpose, but that is taking a myopic view to the whole issue.

Apparently one billion people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Of this, one in hundred die. But as you read this, I am sure the statistics will occupy the lesser used realm of your minds... statistics is an inhumane way to view hunger.

Surely hunger is a poor excuse to die of, and yet the strained voices of the hungry go unheard in the hysterical night as those who are willing, fight a losing battle to stem the slow but dominant tide called death...