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Nyakamwale --

Once again the images from the Horn of Africa are stark -- malnourished children unable to hold up their heads or even wipe the flies that land on their faces, refugee camps overflowing with women and children seeking the basic sustenance that is no longer available in their parched dry villages. Last week the UN declared that the famine in southern Somalia has now spread to four districts and is expected to encompass all of the districts in the south in the coming weeks. While the horror and images may remind us of the mass hunger and famines that we’ve witnessed previously in the Horn of Africa, the situation today is different.

The extreme drought that is affecting Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti -- the worst in more than 60 years -- is impacting more than 13 million people. While all of these countries are experiencing similar weather conditions and increased food insecurity, they are not experiencing the same degree of hunger that led to the formal declaration of famine in Somalia. In fact, the international community and local governments have created systems to prevent the famine conditions that are afflicting almost four million in Somalia. Southern Somalia lacks a functioning government and much of it is controlled by the al-Shabab militia. There is famine in southern Somalia because humanitarian organizations did not have access to vulnerable people who were suffering from widespread hunger and malnutrition. Even now, access within Somalia is limited.

A Moral Outrage

The international community knew that famine was going to strike Somalia. Following the tragedy of past hunger crises, the U.S. government, UN and other international organizations created the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) that effectively predicts hunger needs before they lead to mass suffering and starvation. In November 2010, FEWSNET issued an alert that warned of drought and resulting widespread food shortages in east Africa; in February and April 2011, countries in the Horn of Africa were warned to prepare for food shortages; and in July, famine was predicted to spread across all of south Somalia within one to two months. The warnings were acted upon in other countries in the Horn. While there are increasing hunger needs that must be addressed in those nations, we are not seeing the same degree of severe hunger. In addition, refugee camps hosted by the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments are providing for more than 700,000 Somali refugees who have walked for days in search of food.

Today in Somalia, 300 children under the age of five will die as a result of hunger. And 300 more will die tomorrow. The international community must immediately find a way to help the millions of vulnerable people -- mostly women and children -- trapped by the militia in southern Somalia. The failure to act is a moral outrage.

The UN Security Council should secure unanimous support for a resolution that requires all nations to exert their political influence to secure access to southern Somalia. Governments should support every effort to engage and persuade local authorities in southern Somalia to permit unfettered humanitarian access by UN organizations and NGOs. This action must be taken immediately. Further, global leaders should explore what additional steps should be taken to ensure that future alerts are acted upon.

There is a System in Place

The international community has established an emergency response system that can address the hunger that arises from natural disasters and civil conflict. This global system includes the early warning system, food assistance and food distribution channels. When crises strike -- from the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Asia to the displacement of people in Darfur -- the world has the capacity to respond effectively. With natural disasters increasing by 400 percent over the last two decades and the number of people displaced by conflict and violence rising from 17.4 million in 1997 to 27.5 million in 2010, this system is critical.

In addition to systems to address acute hunger related to emergency needs, there are efforts underway to alleviate hunger, bolster economic opportunity and foster self-sustenance among the billion people who suffer from chronic hunger. This includes helping countries establish safety net systems like school meals programs that help ensure that children receive at least one nutritious meal per day, food for work programs that pay people in food for work to rebuild irrigation systems, and a range of other activities that help small scale farmers increase their productivity and access to markets. These small scale farmers -- primarily women -- comprise almost 500 million of the 1 billion people who suffer from hunger.

The world has a system in place to provide food when emergencies strike and to help move beyond the need for international assistance. With U.S. leadership, the international community is pursuing a comprehensive approach to address both the immediate needs and the underlying causes of hunger.

The System is Under Threat

Now, that system -- that we worked to establish over many decades -- and U.S. leadership in the fight against hunger are under serious threat. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would cut our emergency food aid program -- Food for Peace -- by 75 percent compared to three years ago. Food for Peace was established by President Eisenhower and provides food to people caught in emergency situations. The United States has customarily provided approximately 30 percent of the global emergency needs, consisting primarily of food aid. Food from the United States is critical as it provides a known supply of key commodities that can be prepositioned around the world in strategic locations. With increased volatility in food prices and a more limited global food supply, this food is essential and provides the backbone of the global emergency response system. The cuts passed by the House would reduce the U.S. contribution from 30 to 15 percent of global need and result in 25 million fewer people receiving food.

In addition to the significant cut in emergency food aid, proposed legislation would decrease support for the programs that are designed to address the underlying causes of hunger and create self-sufficiency. Through the Feed the Future program, the U.S. government has mobilized other nations and the private sector to help transform the small scale farmers from recipients of aid to active participants in agricultural markets.

In addition to the humanitarian reasons, military leaders have pleaded for the United States to maintain its commitment to address global hunger. They know that hunger is a primary cause of global instability. In 2008, when food prices limited the ability of people to feed their children, riots broke out in more than 30 countries and governments were destabilized. When people suffer from severe hunger they either migrate, revolt or die. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that "it is less costly -- in blood and treasure -- to address these conditions than put boots on the ground." Food security is directly linked to our national security.

The people of the United States have consistently and strongly supported efforts to address hunger because it is part of our culture -- it is who we are as a people and country. Every president and every congress has supported these efforts. These programs represent less than one tenth of one percent of the U.S. budget. We must continue to build on the achievements and exert U.S. leadership to establish a more stable world. Cuts to these programs would save little but would cost us greatly.

Sincerely,

Rick

Richard Leach
President and CEO
World Food Program USA

P.S. To find out how you can help the Horn of Africa, click here<http://usa.wfp.org/news-story/horn-africa-11-ways-you-can-help>.


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World Food Program USA is a nonprofit organization that builds support in the United States to end global hunger. WFP USA engages individuals and organizations, shapes public policy and generates resources for the United Nations World Food Program and other hunger relief operations.


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