Media statement on the Hunger Envoy Report
Media Statement on the Presentation of Ireland’s Hunger Envoy Report to the Government
Speaking at the launch of a new report published today on the implementation of the Government’s Hunger Task Force Report, Helen Keogh, Chief Executive of World Vision Ireland and Chair of Dochas, the umbrella organisation for aid agencies in Ireland said;
“I welcome this report and particularly the acknowledgement of the important role that Irish Aid’s partnership with NGOs plays in the implementation of the overseas aid programme.”
“The report shows the enormous work that has been done by the Government, NGOs and the international community to combat world hunger but also the huge need that still exists, with one billion people still going hungry every day. As many as 10,000 children die every day as a result of malnutrition.”
“I support the calls for Irish spending on hunger to be ring fenced or maintained at current levels as it will be impossible to maintain progress towards the elimination of hunger without the funding to do so. World Vision Ireland will play its part over the next five years by scaling up its programmes targeting infant and maternal nutrition."
Hunger Report
The progress report sets out the severity of the current global hunger crisis; assesses how the three key recommendations of the Government’s Hunger Task Force have been implemented since its launch in 2008 and provides recommendations to further strengthen Ireland’s response.
The first Government-commissioned Hunger Task Force Report, which was launched at the United Nations in 2008, had three key recommendations:
- Improve smallholder agriculture productivity especially for women farmers
- Target infant and maternal under nutrition
- Ensure that there is real political commitment and leadership to implement these programmes.
Further information about the Hunger Task Force is available here.