Statement by Sheila Sisulu. Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme

Transcription

1 Statement by Sheila Sisulu Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme WFP Symposium Hunger in the Horn of Africa UN University Tokyo, 4 September 2006 Introduction: Thank you Mr. Niwa. (in response to Mr. Niwa s speech) Ladies and gentlemen, It is an honour to be here with so many distinguished guests from all over Japan, and from so many different industries and services. Women and men who share a huge responsibility for maintaining the business sector, as well as building a sustainable environment for us all. Situation in the Horn of Africa Region As many of you are aware, the Greater Horn of Africa was recently affected by a severe drought. Delayed and erratic rains over many seasons have caused crops in many areas to wither and killed thousands of livestock. People s ability to feed themselves is deteriorating, increasing the need for food assistance to the most vulnerable populations in the region. Conflict is also at the root of much chronic hunger and malnutrition in East Africa. Additionally, endemic poverty, low economic growth, drought-prone land and high population growth increase the pinch of hunger. WFP activities in the Horn of Africa region In these conditions, the need for food aid in Africa is enormous. WFP spends the largest portion of its budget in sub-saharan Africa percent of operational expenditure in In East and Central Africa close to 20 million people need our help. WFP has dedicated 1

2 almost one third of its annual budget to the Sudan operation alone our largest operation worldwide. In Sudan, two decades of war between the North and South ended in January However, peace remains fragile and hundreds of thousands of displaced people need to be assisted to return home. WFP provides food assistance to these returning populations en route. WFP also implements food for work development projects that pay workers with food and school feeding programs that encourage children to come to school and concentrate on their studies. These programmes target returnees, facilitating their reintegration back home. WFP has also been repairing roads in southern Sudan to allow displaced people to return in safety and dignity, as well as to promote communication between communities separated during the war. While peace settles in southern Sudan, the situation in Darfur has deteriorated in recent months. Some 2 million people were displaced from their homes in Darfur, and WFP provides direct food assistance to them as well as the villages which take them in. The needs for this operation are enormous and sadly, we are often forced to make a tragic choice between feeding everybody less, or choosing who needs our help most, because there just isn t enough money available. In Somalia, armed conflict and lawlessness continue, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Under these extremely fragile security conditions, WFP has been trying to provide food aid to 1.7 million people, but recent renewed fighting, drought and further displacement of people have made this quite difficult. Somali refugees are arriving in increasing numbers at the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya, which Mr. Niwa visited in August. Apart from some 130,000 refugees from Somalia, Kenya WFP also supports some 70,000 refugees from neighboring Sudan, most of whom need food aid. In addition, drought has also hit the pastoral population of Kenya and WFP is assisting 3.6 million affected people. 2

3 Ethiopia has been a chronic victim of drought. WFP has been focusing on building the resilience of Ethiopia s government and people to these natural disasters through capacitybuilding and development-oriented activities. For example, Ethiopia is the pilot country for WFP's innovative "drought insurance", whereby AXA-Re will pay-out an insurance policy of $7 million, if rainfall hits levels indicating a catastrophic drought, like the one in 1984 when millions perished. This scheme can ensure a faster initial response to a drought, avoiding the need for people to sell their assets in desperation. Paradoxically, Ethiopia has recently experienced extensive flooding, affecting over 118,000 people, and killing hundreds. WFP is providing flood victims with a one month ration. Nonfood items such as plastic sheeting, cooking utensils and jerry cans are also being distributed. WFP is also taking the lead among UN agencies and NGOs in coordinating the delivery of relief. HIV and AIDS are also very serious problems in the Greater Horn. WFP provides assistance to people affected by HIV, especially mothers, grandmothers and children. As simple as it may sound, food is essential in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Just last month, at the International AIDS conference in Toronto, WFP asked the 20,000 people present to make food and nutritional support part of the essential package of care for people affected by HIV. We have found that poor nutrition heightens individual susceptibility to HIV-related infections while food insecurity makes it more likely that individuals adopt risky lifestyles that increase their vulnerability to being exposed to HIV/AIDS. The international community tends to focus on the situations where CNN and BBC follow. However, many places in the world are hidden from the spotlight of TV cameras. Every five seconds a child dies from a hunger-related cause. They do not make the news. They are not featured on TV. Many of these people are in the throes of silent disasters, and though their faces are not familiar, their pain is real. It is our responsibility as global citizens to extend a helping hand to those whom the world has failed. Japan answers the need for aid WFP faces a host of serious constraints in its daily struggle to bring food aid to some of the globe s most remote locations. Poor infrastructure, lack of access to people, sudden 3

4 population movements and violence make our job very difficult. But it is vital work, and your support helps us get food aid to the people who need it, no matter the obstacles. WFP is especially grateful for Japan s generosity towards Africa. In July, WFP received a generous contribution of US $17.3 million from the Government of Japan to help consolidate peace in Africa. We are extremely thankful for this aid package. We would also like to congratulate our strong partners in the private sector, the Japan Association for WFP and its Council members for their continued support and dedication towards the World Food Programme. The steady growth of these efforts help us make life better for millions of suffering people. It is important that WFP and the private sector continue pursuing closer contacts and develop new strategic alliances and partnerships. The activities you see in Japan, which are guided by the Council, are great examples of what can be achieved. It already serves as a role model for other countries, such as Italy, to follow. Mr. Niwa, the Chairmain of the Japan Association for WFP, visited Kenya last month. It is a wonderful example of his sincere support for our cause. Mr. Niwa visited Kenya on his own free time and at his own expense. I have no doubt that his visit will lead to a better understanding of the situation, bring relationships closer and generate more support for our beneficiaries. While some people suggest that WFP is still relatively unknown in Japan, WFP enjoys a reputation in the field as one of the most credible and effective international agencies. Support from organizations such as the Japan Advertising Council (AC) has helped us increase our public awareness of WFP in Japan. This year s campaign features Paul Tergat, the world-record holding marathon runner from Kenya. In the campaign, Paul states that school feeding helped him become the champion he is today. Paul was one of the boys that received meals provided by WFP s school feeding programme. Advertising campaigns such as this have increased public awareness of WFP in Japan and facilitated opportunities for stronger partnerships. 4

5 Despite all of our efforts, the operation in the Horn of Africa currently faces a shortfall of roughly 780 million USD from the 2 billion USD needed for the region. In fact, WFP in Sudan was compelled to halve rations in May and after a brief respite, now faces the possibility of more ration cuts due to lack of funds. A standard emergency food ration for a day consists of just a cup of rice, a spoonful of beans, a teaspoon of oil and a pinch of salt for each person. Can you imagine surviving on just half of that? Despite generous support from Japan and other donors, additional contributions are required for the Horn of Africa to provide enough life-saving aid in the upcoming rainy season, hunger gap and drought. We cannot stress enough that through efforts such as this Horn of Africa campaign, we can work together to bring a helping hand to the people suffering silent disasters. We urge you to continue helping us to alleviate the situation in the Horn of Africa. Ladies and gentleman, the Horn of Africa needs your assistance. Contributions from you that will help feed millions of people who are suffering from chronic huger. Something as simple as a healthy, nutritious meal can save a child s life. It can offer a family an alternative to destitution. It can galvanise a whole community to conquer hunger and poverty. No one wants to turn to desperate measures to feed themselves and their children. At the World Food Programme we know how to address today s hunger and help ensure that future generations will be able to feed themselves. Come join us in this effort. I promise you will find it as rewarding as I do. 5