A CHARTER TO END EXTREME HUNGER: PRESS CONFERENCE
23 Sep 2011 09:42
Kenyan PM first to sign up to new Charter drawn up by major aid agencies outlining five key actions that governments of rich and poor countries should take to stop widespread starvation
WHAT: A Press Conference with Bob Geldof KBE, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya, and Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Baroness Amos, together with a coalition of aid agencies, chaired by CEO of ONE, Michael Elliott. The Conference will outline a ‘Charter to end Extreme Hunger’ asking for key commitments from world leaders to prevent future hunger disasters, while at the same time calling for the emergency response for East Africa to be properly funded and scaled up. Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be the first to sign the ground-breaking Charter aimed at making food crises like the one gripping East Africa a thing of the past.
WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2011
TIME: 8.30am
WHERE: Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium, United Nations Secretariat, New York, NY
BACKGROUND;
The Charter was drafted by a coalition of aid agencies and civil society groups and outlines five key actions that governments of rich and poor countries should take to stop widespread starvation as a result of drought, high food prices and conflict.
Aid agencies and governments are working to provide urgently needed aid to the region, but the consensus is that today’s crisis could have been avoided if the right steps had been taken early on.
- Responding early: The current crisis in East Africa was predicted months in advance, yet warnings were largely unheeded. Governments must ensure that early warnings mean automatic early action to prevent a repeat of the tragedy playing out in East Africa
- Supporting local food production: Supporting local, small scale farmers and livestock owners is one of the best ways to protect against hunger crises and mitigate against a changing climate and soaring food prices. Governments must make sure that local food producers are supported to protect against price and environmental shocks.
- Making food affordable: Spiralling food and oil prices have complicated the current crises, leaving thousands of people unable to afford basic foods. Governments must stockpile emergency food reserves and limit the use of food export bans to prevent spikes in food prices.
- Protecting the poorest and most vulnerable: Millions of people around the world are living on the edge of survival. Governments should build social safety nets and invest fairly to ensure the poorest sections of society enjoy the same protections and services as the richest.
- Reducing armed conflict: Violence is one of the principle causes of mass starvation. Governments must commit to allowing and providing access for humanitarian aid to regions where conflict is hampering development, and engage in vigorous diplomacy to help end conflict.
The Charter has been drafted and endorsed by:
Oxfam, ONE, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision, Christian Aid, CAFOD, ActionAid, International Medical Corps, American Jewish World Service, Women’s Refugee Commission, West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Eastern & Southern Africa Farmers' Forum (ESAFF), The Eastern Africa Civil Society Forum (EACSOF), The Legal Resources Foundation, Channel 16, American Jewish World Service, Church World Service, Merlin, ADRA International, Plan, Islamic Aid, Concern, Muslim Aid, International Rescue Committee.
Media contacts: Ishbel Matheson i.matheson@savethechildren.org.uk (001 917 969 2461) or Louis Belanger louis.belanger@oxfaminternational.org (001 917 224 0834)
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