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 | UNICEF
Somalia: child hunger surges as humanitarian aid dries up – UNICEF
The global funding crisis for vital lifesaving work is taking a growing toll on the most vulnerable children in Somalia, where hundreds of health and nutrition facilities have been forced to close, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
As the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s history continued spreading on Friday, UN responders renewed their urgent appeal for immediate international support, with existing funding for lifesaving work critically low.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC: In the fight against Ebola, bikers transporting dead bodies hold key to community engagement - WHO
From the frontlines of the deadliest-ever Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) shared details on Tuesday of a massive push for community engagement, a day after yet another ambulance attack.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNFPA
Sudan: The harrowing reality of giving birth in a war zone
Sudanese women about to give birth are losing their babies and sometimes their own lives because of a lack of specialist healthcare support, amid the ongoing war, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Colombia earthquake: International teams ready to support, says UN
As earthquake rescue efforts across western Colombia continued on Tuesday, UN agencies said that they stood ready to help “with everything we've got” if and when the request came from the authorities.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | HRC
Myanmar's military has carried out a sustained campaign of deliberate attacks on civilians – including airstrikes on homes, schools and camps for displaced people, alongside arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence – Human Rights Council-appointed investigators said on Tuesday.
1
6
1
1
Edited News | UNOG
In a new twist on panda diplomacy, UN Geneva welcomed five young peacocks to the Palace of Nations on Friday, a gift of India that preserves a tradition of keeping the stately birds in the grounds, that predates both the global body and its ill-fated predecessor, the League of Nations.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Afghanistan’s hunger crisis intensifies as millions go without food aid – WFP
Afghanistan’s dire hunger crisis now affects 14 million people including babies fed on weak tea and a little bread by their despairing and dirt-poor parents.
In a new alert on Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that one in three Afghans is now in the grip of acute food insecurity and that it lacks the resources to contain the deepening crisis.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM
From fake jobs to forced crime: IOM sounds alarm on human trafficking behind online scams
A job offer can conceal a criminal network and a single click can lead to a nightmare. Lured by false promises of legitimate employment abroad, hundreds of thousands of people are being trafficked each year, held captive and forced to carry out online scams.
Ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons marked on 30 July, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is raising the alarm over a rapidly expanding multibillion-dollar criminal industry that turns job seekers into victims of forced cybercrime.
1
1
1
Edited News | UN WOMEN
In Sudan’s El Obeid, women risk drone attacks by day and rape by night to access water
As war intensifies in the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state, filling up a jerrycan of water comes at a high risk for women and girls: by day, drones strike water points and by night, women who venture out to fill a bucket risk rape. UN Women warns of a dual terror that has turned access to water into a deadly gamble.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights spokesperson Shabia Mantoo made the following remarks on stranded Hormuz seafarers abandoned for months at sea, at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press conference in Geneva, Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Danielle Bell, head of UN Human Rights’ Ukraine team, spoke of the deepening impact of the war on the civilian population.