Save the Children statement following Rome conference on global hunger
Food prices are increasingly a matter of life and death for children from poor families. Many families couldn't afford a nutritious diet even before prices went up. But a doubling or more of the price of staple foods will be a catastrophe
Friday 18 April 2008
David Mepham, Save the Children UK's Director of Policy, said: "Food prices are increasingly a matter of life and death for children from poor families. Many families couldn't afford a nutritious diet even before prices went up. But a doubling or more of the price of staple foods will be a catastrophe, especially for children.
"The current crisis has brought into sharp focus how the international aid system has failed to solve the ongoing scandal of malnutrition for the world's poorest children. Too often aid is not reaching those most in need, or isn't as effective as it should be, and no one is held responsible for the shortcomings.
"We can throw food aid at the problem, and that's better than nothing. But it's only a short term and partial fix. On this issue the international community is dysfunctional and fragmented. Many UN agencies make food security and good nutrition their business, but none takes the leadership for solving the whole problem for the long term.
"We need to sort this out, and Save the Children UK is calling for a global top-level summit on nutrition to force accountability and change on this matter. The lives of children around the world depend on taking the right action now."
Ends
Notes to editors
- For further information please contact the Save the Children Press Office on 020 7012 6841, or out of hours contact the on-call press officer on 07831 650 409
- Save the Children is the world's independent children's charity. We're outraged that millions of children are still denied proper healthcare, food, education and protection. We're working flat out to get every child their rights and we're determined to make further, faster changes. How many? How fast? It's up to you. For further information about our work please go to What we do.
