On World Food Day, A hunger-free world is possible
One South Sudanese woman’s wish for the future
Story by Saddal Diab
“On World Food Day, people must be aware of how we live. I wish for the day when everyone has enough food,” says Madelena, a 77-year-old mother of five and grandmother of ten, who is one of thousands of people WFP is providing assistance to in Juba city in South Sudan.
On the outskirts of Juba, lies St. Vincent, a vast and expansive food distribution and training center. Usually reserved for cash distributions run by the World Food Programme (WFP), but since April it has been transformed into a food distribution center to respond to the growing needs of over 2,100 people in the area.
The site is completely COVID-compliant, and has several hand washing stations and people are seated at a distance from one another.
Enter Madelena. With her energetic smile, the team is instantly drawn to her boisterous and magnetic personality. A natural speaker, she welcomed our request to document her journey.
The process
After washing her hands, Madelena takes a seat and waits for her turn. She jokes with her neighbors, asking why the process is taking long.
Then it is time to get her fingerprints. Madelena follows the instructions faithfully and appears to be intrigued by the process.
Outside the WFP team begins to off-load food. WFP is able to step up its assistance to vulnerable urban communities hard-hit by the impact of COVID 19 thanks to support from donors like the United States. Madelena receives her food and she begins to open up.
Madelena is one of thousands of residents in the city receiving assistance from WFP, many of whom have been affected by the economic downturn as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In April alone WFP assisted almost 94,000 urban residents with either cash or food assistance. WFP continues to support the urban poor in Juba.
Behind Madelena’s smile is a life of strain and desperation, and she still works to make ends meet for her family.
“If it wasn’t for this food, we would not have enough to eat,” she says. Madelena is new to WFP assistance and could not be more grateful. “I survived by collecting firewood from the bush and selling it. It is not a reliable source of income but it is the only way my family could eat.”
Madelena at home
Madelena invites us to her home, a relatively short drive from the food distribution point but Madelena usually has to make the journey on foot which often takes over two hours.
“This is where I live,” she says pointing to two small make-shift huts, one for cooking and the other for sleeping. She gets to work, making a stew from the pulses she received. Soon enough, it is time to eat. The family huddles together for a well-deserved meal.
Grow, Nourish, Sustain — Together
World Food Day is being commemorated at a unique juncture. While the impact of COVID-19 threatens to push back a lot of the progress made in achieving food security, it is also an opportunity for world leaders to reaffirm their commitment to fight hunger and malnutrition. It is time for the international community to pool its efforts for the collective common good.
The voices of people like Madelena must be heard. Her message to donors and WFP is one of thanks. It is also a plea for the international community not to ignore their plight.
