Help Venezuela with food aid

It's urgent we prevent a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela after the U.S. attack which removed the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, to face drug trafficking charges. The United States must step away from war and send food to Venezuela's impoverished people.

In Venezuela, "40% of the population are experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity" according to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). About 4 million Venezuelans are facing severe hunger and desperately need food assistance. Venezuelans have suffered from many climate related disasters including floods, drought and landslides.

A U.S. war with Venezuela would only worsen hunger, poverty and displacement. We must support the Venezuelan people who are trying to save their country.

“Venezuelan civil society has been on the front lines, providing humanitarian aid and standing with those most affected by the crisis. Now more than ever, we must recognize and strengthen these efforts, supporting them as they continue to defend human rights, protect vulnerable people, and work toward restoring democracy,” said Gloria García Parra, Regional Director of Oxfam in Latin America and the Caribbean.

But we cannot help Venezuela if we are cutting funding which WFP and other charities that feed the hungry depend on. Last year the United States eliminated some humanitarian aid programs and reduced funding even though global needs were increasing. The WFP has not received enough donations for its Venezuelan mission.

The United States needs to step up its response to humanitarian emergencies like Venezuela after a year of tragic budget cuts. The U.S. Food for Peace program needs a big funding boost so it can help WFP and other charities fight hunger in Venezuela and across the globe. There are far too many shortages and ration cuts facing relief missions in Venezuela and other countries on the brink. Congress can certainly increase funding for global food aid.

U.S. farms also benefit from Food for Peace. We should always be looking for ways to use our agriculture to help other nations.

America's strength relies on a robust humanitarian response to suffering around the globe. As former Secretary of State George Marshall said after World War II, American foreign policy must be "against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos."

War will only worsen problems in Venezuela so we must work through peaceful means only.

One thing the United States has traditionally done to help countries in turmoil is by sponsoring school lunch programs to feed kids. This would be a good time to give a boost to the school lunch program in Venezuela. We could make sure WFP and other charities have funding to provide school meals to the poorest children in Venezuela. These meals reduce hunger, which encourages children to stay in school.

People in Venezuela need hope for peace right now. We must stop any military intervention and focus on peaceful ways to support Venezuela. We can help by providing food for the hungry and other aid to those who desperately need it.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.”