Food aid: UN 'must have $1bn'

2005-07-27 18:53

London - The international aid agency, Oxfam, has urged the United Nations on Wednesday to create a $1bn emergency fund at a summit in September to prevent future famines such as one that is devastating Niger.

The British-based organisation said, the famine, which was threatening 3.6 million people - including 800 000 children - was predicted more than six months ago.

In 50 days' time, UN countries were due to gather in New York for an annual meeting, where the one-billion-dollar fund was on the agenda.

Oxfam said: "If the proposal is agreed, UN member states would pay into the permanent fund, so that when a country such as Niger needs assistance, money would be available immediately."

World 'waits until children die'

However, the agency warned that a UN appeal for $30m to help the area was launched in November 2004, but had only received a third of the cash.

Similarly, a $16m appeal by the UN food body - the World Food Programme - was just 40% funded.

Oxfam campaigns director Phil Bloomer said: "It is outrageous that the world waits until children are dying before acting to save them.

"The UN launched their appeal for Niger in November 2004, but it wasn't until international TV crews arrived last week that money really started coming in.

"The amounts asked for are paltry. A small proportion of the new money pledged at the G8 would cover it.

"Money for Niger will eventually arrive, but it will be too late for many."

Funding 'available immediately'

Oxfam claimed that the cost of averting the food crisis when it was first predicted would have been one dollar a person affected a day, but saving each starving person would now cost $80.

Bloomer said: "Starvation does not have to be inevitable. The food crisis in Niger was predicted months ago and could easily have been prevented if funding was immediately available.

"In 50 days' time, world leaders must set up a UN emergency fund to stop food crisis like Niger ever happening again."

Although Niger was the worst hit country in the region, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso were also suffering from the famine, which was caused by poor rainfall and a locust plague.

Further crises were said to be looming in other parts of Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea.

- AFP