Forty years ago, more than 400 television stations worldwide broadcast BBC news footage warning that 1 million people were starving to death in Ethiopia. It garnered a global response, including the famed Live Aid fundraising concerts in the United States and United Kingdom which raised more than $100 million.
But hunger remains a serious problem in Ethiopia, the Greater Horn of Africa, and elsewhere around the globe.
Last month, Save The Children UK and the Hungry for Action campaign screened a similarly cautionary film at an event in London about drought-devastated communities in Somaliland. This time, the message is starker: Since 1984, 18.3 million people have died globally from hunger, according to the alliance’s estimates. The organizers warned that the mainstream media is not reporting enough on the issue, nor are governments acting on it.
About the author
Gabriella Jóźwiak@GabriellaJ
Gabriella Jóźwiak is an award-winning journalist based in London. Her work on issues and policies affecting children and young people in developing countries and the U.K. has been published in national newspapers and magazines. Having worked in-house for domestic and international development charities, Jóźwiak has a keen interest in organizational development, and has worked as a journalist in several countries across West Africa and South America.
