GENEVA / G7 FAMINE PREVENTION COMMITMENT

With the recognition of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and more than 34 million people already facing emergency levels of food insecurity, the world leaders urgently addressed the problem at the G7 summit last weekend and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:38
• Production Date: 15 June 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP
• Subject Topical: FOOD SECURITY; MALNUTRITION
• MAMS Id: 2630884
• Parent Id: 2630884
• Alternate Title: unifeed210615a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / G7 FAMINE PREVENTION COMMITMENT
TRT: 01:41
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 JUNE 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a sunny day.
2. Wide shot, press briefing at the UN in Geneva
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP):
“Leaders of the G7 acknowledged the unprecedented humanitarian crisis our world faces today as more than 34 million people right now teeter on the edge of famine and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact to urgently address the problem. Now this is a welcome move”.
4. Close up, microphones in press briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP):
“The G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to provide $7 billion in vital humanitarian assistance as well as to take diplomatic action to promote humanitarian access. Now these elements of the Compact are the minimum requirements that must be actioned immediately to save lives”.
6. Med shot, technical staff managing zoom briefing
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP):
“For the next six months alone, the World Food Programme requires 4.5 billion dollars and the consequences of inaction and these funding shortfalls will be measured in lost lives, and setbacks in progress towards long-term development goals”.
8. Med shot, journalist listening
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson of the UN World Food Programme (WFP):
“Due to funding issues, the World Food Programme has in many cases taking food from the hungry to give to the starving. We have done ration cuts in South Sudan and in Yemen, and these are two countries of concern”.
10. Med shot, podium with screen
11. Med shot, podium with journalist
12. Med shot, journalist filmed from behind listening

Storyline

With the recognition of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and more than 34 million people already facing emergency levels of food insecurity, the world leaders urgently addressed the problem at the G7 summit last weekend and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact.

“Leaders of the G7 acknowledged the unprecedented humanitarian crisis our world faces today as more than 34 million people right now teeter on the edge of famine and endorsed a Famine Prevention Compact to urgently address the problem. Now this is a welcome move”, told WFP’s spokesperson Tomson Phiri today at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva. He added that “the G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to provide USD 7 billion in vital humanitarian assistance as well as to take diplomatic action to promote humanitarian access. Now these elements of the Compact are the minimum requirements that must be actioned immediately to save lives”.

WFP and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) called in March for USD 5.5 billion to scale-up operations and avert famine. However, as funding shortfalls continued, urgently needed food assistance in Yemen, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and most recently, the Tigray region of Ethiopia could not be provided.

“For the next six months alone, the World Food Programme requires 4.5 billion dollars and the consequences of inaction and these funding shortfalls will be measured in lost lives, and setbacks in progress towards long-term development goals”, informed WFP’s Tomson Phiri.

In Burkina Faso funding gaps have forced WFP to reduce food assistance by up to 50 percent for 1,4 million people during the lean season. In Madagascar, only those facing catastrophic levels of hunger receive full rations.

“Due to funding issues, the World Food Programme has in many cases taking food from the hungry to give to the starving”, WFP’s spokesperson said. “We have done ration cuts in South Sudan and in Yemen, and these are two countries of concern”.

Insecurity is also hindering WFP operations. The Organisation struggles to reach people in countries such as the Central Sahel region, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

In Tigray where 350,000 people face catastrophic levels of hunger, humanitarian access is the main challenge to WFP as armed groups are blocking the humanitarian assistance.