Australian aid agencies call for change to end hunger crises in Africa

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

One year since the devastating food crisis in East Africa became a global news story, leading Australian aid agencies Save the Children and World Vision are calling for a fresh approach to tackle hunger in Africa.

In a new report published, the leading aid agencies call for solutions that address the root causes of hunger and ensure families have access to the proper food, income and health so that the next time drought hits, catastrophe can be averted.

“The Australian government and the Australian people have shown they care about eradicating hunger, they want to help put a stop to these crises. What we need is a commitment to revamping the way we tackle hunger in Africa, a shift away from simply responding to emergencies towards preventing them in the first place,” said Save the Children Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Advisor Rebecca Barber.

The report, “Ending the Everyday Emergency,” identifies families’ lack of resilience, and not drought or food shortage, as the overarching reason for the crisis that today has affected over 18 million people in West Africa – a figure equivalent to 80% of the population of Australia.

“This is a region where children are chronically malnourished because of successive crises. But with the right long-term solutions, we can prevent this from happening again and help the most vulnerable families cope better when times are tough,” said World Vision Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Anthea Spinks.

The latest food emergency is the fourth time this century that families in West Africa have been threatened by hunger. Each time, families are forced to sell more of their belongings, take their children out of school, cut down on meals, and go further into debt. Successive crises have persistently crippled the ability of families to cope when prices go up or crops fail, making them increasingly vulnerable each time disaster hits. 

 

Notes to editor: Australia committed $128 million to the hunger crisis in East Africa, and has to date contributed $30 million to West Africa. The UN estimates that for every US$1 invested in preparing for a disaster, US$7 spent on emergency relief could be saved. The Australian government has dedicated funds for reducing risks of disaster in Africa and around the world. These funds have increased exponentially over the past three years, but with the reoccurring needs in West Africa, aid agencies say more can be done.

 
For more information or an interview with Rebecca Barber call Annie Bodmer-Roy on 0416 355 851. 
For an interview with Anthea Spinks contact Kate Rose on 0418 528683

Media Releases, Poverty, Famine, Africa, Australian Government, Child Deaths, Famine, Foreign Aid, Save the Children, West Africa Food Crises

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