The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
“34 million people on the edge of famine could be helped through ‘Famine Prevention Compact’ endorsed by G7 leaders”, says UN World Food Programme (WFP)
With the recognition of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and more than 34 million people already facing emergency levels of food insecurity, the world leaders urgently addressed the problem at the G7 summit last weekend and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact.
“Leaders of the G7 acknowledged the unprecedented humanitarian crisis our world faces today as more than 34 million people right now teeter on the edge of famine and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact to urgently address the problem. Now this is a welcome move”, told WFP’s spokesperson Tomson Phiri today at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva. He added that “the G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to provide $7 billion in vital humanitarian assistance as well as to take diplomatic action to promote humanitarian access. Now these elements of the Compact are the minimum requirements that must be actioned immediately to save lives”.
WFP and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called in March for $ 5.5 billion to scale-up operations and avert famine. However, as funding shortfalls continued, urgently needed food assistance in Yemen, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and most recently, the Tigray region of Ethiopia could not be provided.
“For the next six months alone, the World Food Programme requires 4.5 billion dollars and the consequences of inaction and these funding shortfalls will be measured in lost lives, and setbacks in progress towards long-term development goals”, informed WFP’s Tomson Phiri.
In Burkina Faso funding gaps have forced WFP to reduce food assistance by up to 50 percent for 1,4 million people during the lean season. In Madagascar, only those facing catastrophic levels of hunger receive full rations.
“Due to funding issues, the World Food Programme has in many cases taking food from the hungry to give to the starving”, WFP’s spokesperson said. “We have done ration cuts in South Sudan and in Yemen, and these are two countries of concern”.
Insecurity is also hindering WFP operations. The Organisation struggles to reach people in countries such as the Central Sahel region, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.
In Tigray where 350,000 people face catastrophic levels of hunger, humanitarian access is the main challenge to WFP as armed groups are blocking the humanitarian assistance.
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a sunny day.
- Wide shot, press briefing at the UN in Geneva
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP): “Leaders of the G7 acknowledged the unprecedented humanitarian crisis our world faces today as more than 34 million people right now teeter on the edge of famine and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact to urgently address the problem. Now this is a welcome move”.
- Close up, microphones in press briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP): “The G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to provide $7 billion in vital humanitarian assistance as well as to take diplomatic action to promote humanitarian access. Now these elements of the Compact are the minimum requirements that must be actioned immediately to save lives”.
- Medium shot, technical staff managing zoom briefing
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP): “For the next six months alone, the World Food Programme requires 4.5 billion dollars and the consequences of inaction and these funding shortfalls will be measured in lost lives, and setbacks in progress towards long-term development goals”.
- Medium shot, journalist listening
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP): “Due to funding issues, the World Food Programme has in many cases taking food from the hungry to give to the starving. We have done ration cuts in South Sudan and in Yemen, and these are two countries of concern”.
- Medium shot, podium with screen
- Medium shot, podium with journalist
- Medium shot, journalist filmed from behind listening
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News , B-roll | OCHA
Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA
Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.
/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR
Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR
With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Funding and supply shortfalls for the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s work in Ethiopia will halt lifesaving treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children at the end of the month. “We are at the breaking point,” it said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP
Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’
In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO
Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say
Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP
Dangers grow for Myanmar earthquake survivors, health system 'overwhelmed' - UNDP
In earthquake-shattered central Myanmar people are sleeping in the streets in fear of buildings collapsing, facing early monsoon rains and the risk of waterborne diseases, the UN Development Programme warned on Tuesday.