Chronically hungry people cannot plan and strive to improve their lot in life. They must devote their time and efforts to getting food for their next meal. These people have no time to spend on obtaining education, skills or training to improve their income and living conditions in the longer term. The income of a hungry household is determined largely by the productivity of its labour. Because the chronically hungry are physically weak and susceptible to illnesses, their productivity is low, and so are their earnings.
Hunger leads to tomorrow's poverty as well.
When the nutrition of unborn babies and young children is inadequate, their future health, learning capacity, mental skills and productivity are put at risk. And hunger and poverty pass from one generation to another. In this deteriorating situation, WFP was able to help reach approximately 25 million poor and hungry people, about the same number as the year before, through development projects. WFP had planned to assist an additional two million people, but resources did not become available. Beneficiaries of WFP assistance receive different rations, depending on their circumstances.