2014-07-26 13:01:00

UN needs more funding to deal with food insecurity in the Sahel


Vatican Radio) Facing a funding gap of US$100 million, the United Nations has appealed to the international donor community to renew a commitment to fight hunger and food insecurity in the Sahel region by protecting and strengthening the resilience of the poor and very poor families in the region.

According to a joint statement of the UN and FAO, various factors, including the impact of several ongoing conflicts and recurring droughts are worsening food insecurity in the region.

In February this year, FAO appealed to donors for US$116 million to assist more than 7.5 million vulnerable people in the Sahel. To date, only US$16 million or less than 14 percent, has been received.

"If we are going to break out of this cycle of chronic crises across the Sahel region, emergency assistance to vulnerable farmers and pastoralists has to be considered a top priority," said Robert Piper, the UN's Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel. "The best way to reduce tomorrow's emergency case-load is to help households protect their assets today,"  he added.  

This year, as part of a commitment to zero hunger in the Sahel region, the UN and humanitarian partners launched an ambitious three-year Regional Strategic Response Plan for the Sahel to support resilience over the longer-term by tackling the root causes of hunger. The plan also includes the rapid scaling-up of measures to meet the immediate food security and nutritional needs of those at-risk.

Over the years, despite efforts by governments and partners to fight hunger in the Sahel, the situation remains of major concern.

The Sahel region is the zone in Africa between the Sahara desert to the North and the Savanna forests to the South. It has a semi-arid climate and covers parts of Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and Mali right up to the Northern parts of Nigeria, Cameroun as well as the northern parts of Sudan and Eriteria. It is a vast expanse of land.  

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