WOMEN AND HUNGER

March is Women’s History Month and we’re honoring women who make a difference in the fight against hunger. Yet, globally, women remain among the most vulnerable to food insecurity. Of the 690 million people who are food insecure in the world today, 60% are women. Gender-based violence and limited access to resources in many regions create immense challenges. Your support empowers women around the world to break the cycle of hunger and build a brighter future.

Each meal you pack, fund and pray over equips FMSC partners to do transformative work around the world. Hunger relief is usually just part of what our partners do — but food is the foundation for so much more.

Here's a look at the state of hunger in two countries where FMSC partners work.

Afghanistan | Middle East

Global Hunger Index ranking (of 127 countries): 116

Right now, one in three people in Afghanistan — over 13 million people — don’t have enough to eat. Children are suffering the most, with 3.2 million facing acute malnutrition and nearly half of kids under age 5 experience stunted growth

Stunting isn’t just about height — it has lifelong consequences. It affects brain development, weakens immune systems, and can limit a child’s ability to learn and earn a living later in life. The impact can span generations: Malnourished mothers are more likely to have underweight babies, perpetuating the cycle of hunger and poverty.

Decades of conflict, economic collapse and climate disasters have pushed millions to the brink. But extreme restrictions on women have made the crisis even worse. The Taliban has banned women from most jobs, education and even public spaces, stripping families of income and access to food. Mothers without male relatives struggle to buy food at all.

FMSC partners use MannaPack® meals to support our partners’ work in Afghanistan, including:

• Women’s empowerment
• Children’s health and education
• Orphan care
• Internally displaced people

For the protection of our partners and the people they serve, we are not currently sharing any identifying details for FMSC distribution partners in Afghanistan.

Chad | Africa

Global Hunger Index ranking (of 127 countries): 125

The Global Hunger Index ranks Chad the third-worst hunger crisis in the world.

Conflict, economic instability and climate disasters have driven hunger to alarming levels.

The war in Sudan has forced over 700,000 refugees into Chad, pushing its total refugee population to more than 1.2 million — the highest in Africa. Meanwhile, devastating floods have displaced thousands and destroyed homes, crops and infrastructure.

Nearly 42% of Chad’s population lives in poverty, and 3.4 million people are acutely food insecure. This means they don’t have enough food to meet their basic needs, and they face serious, immediate risks of malnutrition and illness. Children are suffering the most, with nearly 1.94 million children under 5 acutely malnourished. Their survival and future are at severe risk.

Featured partners: Feed the Hungry, Convoy of Hope