Category: Countries

PHILIPPINES: Unfairly sacked farm labourers in Mindanao forced to eat poisonous frogs and corncobs due to abject poverty and lack of food

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PHILIPPINES: Unfairly sacked farm labourers in Mindanao forced to eat poisonous frogs and corncobs due to abject poverty and lack of food

At least seven families of former labourers who were dismissed in 2003 from their jobs at the Sarangani Agricultural Company Incorporated (Saci) banana plantation for protesting against the company over land claims are suffering from hunger and have been forced to eat poisonous frogs in order to survive. Read more about PHILIPPINES: Unfairly sacked farm labourers in Mindanao forced to eat poisonous frogs and corncobs due to abject poverty and lack of food …

BURMA: WFP says that government of Burma blocking food distribution

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BURMA: WFP says that government of Burma blocking food distribution

According to a September 23 report in The Irrawaddy online news service, the head of the World Food Programme in Burma, Bhim Udas, has said that in recent months the government authorities have delayed granting of permits for distribution of food in areas where the WFP has been working for over a decade. Udas reportedly said that the WFP had to wait for three months to get permits to Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, where it is distributing food for around 300,000 people. He also said that the government was deliberately restricting supply of food to the region. Read more about BURMA: WFP says that government of Burma blocking food distribution …

UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue in Varanasi

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UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue in Varanasi

The AHRC earlier reported how Vishambhar’s wife and two of his five children died of starvation and hunger-related illness in April and May 2005 after he lost his job due to a long-term downturn in the weaving market. Despite the changed economic situation destroying entire communities like the village of Sankarpur, state government agencies have failed to give social security and food assistance as required by law. In Vishambhar’s case he was not given the card for government rations to which he was entitled. Only after several media reports on the deaths of his wife and children did the administration give him a pitiful handout, consisting of 50kg of wheat and 20kg of rice. Meanwhile, his surviving children were taken to a nearby social welfare facility run by a non-government group. Read more about UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue in Varanasi …

UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue despite government’s commitment to provide food assistance in West Bengal

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UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue despite government’s commitment to provide food assistance in West Bengal

On September 4, 2005, the villagers of Jalangi, Murshidabad rejoiced at the good news; over 500 names, submitted by Masum, were added to about 20 ration dealer shops throughout the district. This meant that for the first time, the hunger victims in Jalangi would benefit from subsidized food through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Men, women and children in the area ran to the ration shops, eager to celebrate the seeming victory. Read more about UPDATE (India): Starvation deaths continue despite government’s commitment to provide food assistance in West Bengal …

UPDATE (Philippines): Three children die at evacuation centre due to hunger; adequate food urgently needed for starving evacuees

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UPDATE (Philippines): Three children die at evacuation centre due to hunger; adequate food urgently needed for starving evacuees

The AHRC has received a report from United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), a human rights organization based in Cotabato City, Mindanao, that three children died at an evacuation centre for persons fleeing fighting on the island this 28 August 2005. Two of the children were identified as one-year-olds Nurhuda Kaling and Babaykan Kasan. The third victim was not named. All the children reportedly died from diarrhea caused by lack of nutritious food and potable water supply. At the time they fell ill they did not get any medical attention. Read more about UPDATE (Philippines): Three children die at evacuation centre due to hunger; adequate food urgently needed for starving evacuees …

INDIA: Villagers exploited by employment in slave like conditions due to lack of food and terrible living conditions

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INDIA: Villagers exploited by employment in slave like conditions due to lack of food and terrible living conditions

The Chamar tribe in Kodwari village of Mirzapur District in Uttar Pradesh, India is facing extreme conditions due to lack of food and inhuman living conditions. The environment is devastated by environmental degradation and currently huge granite quarries plunder granite from the land thereby adding up to an acute shortage of water. There is no accessible health care system and the local administration has ignored the victims when it comes to subsidized food assistance. Education for children is out of the question. Read more about INDIA: Villagers exploited by employment in slave like conditions due to lack of food and terrible living conditions …

PHILIPPINES: Displaced families starving due to abject poverty in General Santos City, Mindanao

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PHILIPPINES: Displaced families starving due to abject poverty in General Santos City, Mindanao

Three displaced families now residing in a village in General Santos City, Mindanao, are suffering from malnutrition and poverty. The families, who are ethnic minorities originally from farmlands in South Cotabato, now engage in collecting and selling reusable garbage at a dumpsite for a living. They live in desperate conditions, and are also lacking in potable water and sufficient medical assistance. Read more about PHILIPPINES: Displaced families starving due to abject poverty in General Santos City, Mindanao …

INDIA: Villager commits suicide in West Bengal due to hunger and lack of concern by authorities

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INDIA: Villager commits suicide in West Bengal due to hunger and lack of concern by authorities

Bighna Bhuiyan, who was unable to sustain either himself or his family due to abject poverty, committed suicide in Bhuiyanpara Village by hanging himself from a tree on August 21, 2005. Bighna and his family of six lived in a mud house. In order to earn a living Bighna worked as a day labourer. However, it was often difficult to find work, especially during the monsoons and Bighna found it increasingly hard to provide adequate food for his family. As a consequence, Bighna soon began to suffer from various disorders related to malnutrition. Read more about INDIA: Villager commits suicide in West Bengal due to hunger and lack of concern by authorities …

INDIA: Elderly woman dies of hunger after being denied food assistance in Uttar-Pradesh

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INDIA: Elderly woman dies of hunger after being denied food assistance in Uttar-Pradesh

Punvasia, aged 65, died of starvation on June 12, 2005 outside her village home in Sonbhadra, Uttar-Pradesh. She was the wife of the late Meghan, and had three sons (Brahma, Bishnu, and Mahesh) and two daughters. All children were married and thus, Punvasia lived alone and supported herself. Read more about INDIA: Elderly woman dies of hunger after being denied food assistance in Uttar-Pradesh …

PHILIPPINES: Starvation and hunger threaten hundreds of displaced villagers following intense fighting in Maguindanao, Mindanao

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PHILIPPINES: Starvation and hunger threaten hundreds of displaced villagers following intense fighting in Maguindanao, Mindanao

Hundreds of villagers in Barangay Ahan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao are facing threats of starvation and hunger after they were unable to harvest their crops when fighting between soldiers and bandits broke out in early July this year. Out of desperation, the villagers also refused to leave their homes and farms despite the sporadic air strikes and mortar shelling, for they feared that should they leave, they would have no available means to provide for their livelihoods. Read more about PHILIPPINES: Starvation and hunger threaten hundreds of displaced villagers following intense fighting in Maguindanao, Mindanao …