"An estimated 2.6 million children die from starvation and hunger related health problems each year ("The History of Food Aid," 2013)."
The History of Food Aid: Food for Peace Program
Originally known as Public Law 480, the Food for Peace Program was enacted in 1954 by President Eisenhower. Public Law 480 was renamed by President Kennedy. At first, the program was meant to send food surpluses to developing countries. Today, Congress sets a budget for food aid each year to fund the program. Since it was enacted in 1954, the Food for Peace program has helped over 3 billion people from 150 countries. The program is constantly changing to reflect the current needs of people around the world ("The History of Food Aid," 2013).
The Goal
The main goal of the Food for Peace Program is to provide and maintain food security for people in developing countries. The following are the four pillars of food security, as outlined by the United States Food Aid & Security website:
1. Access to food
2. Availability of food
3. Utilizing food for health benefits and nutrition
4. Stable and reliable sources of nutrition
("Food for Peace," 2013")
The Goal
The main goal of the Food for Peace Program is to provide and maintain food security for people in developing countries. The following are the four pillars of food security, as outlined by the United States Food Aid & Security website:
1. Access to food
2. Availability of food
3. Utilizing food for health benefits and nutrition
4. Stable and reliable sources of nutrition
("Food for Peace," 2013")
“Food is strength, and food is peace, and food is freedom, and food is a helping hand to people around the world whose good will and friendship we want." President John F. Kennedy ("The History of Food Aid," 2013)
The Benefits
Food aid...
The following video from the organization Bread for the World highlights several positive aspects of food aid.
- Helps prevent against starvation
- Makes sure mothers and pregnant women are properly nourished, thus making them healthy enough to care for their children
- Prevents children from becoming malnourished
- Keeps workers from becoming weak from a lack of food
The following video from the organization Bread for the World highlights several positive aspects of food aid.