The two major entities of the Red Cross Movement are united to ask States to avoid famines in the short and long term. The war in Ukraine “only complicates the problem”, says Peter Maurer who wants an acceleration in grain exports.
“We call on member states to act now,” the president of the International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Francesco Rocca, told reporters on Tuesday. Many people can be saved, although the situation is expected to deteriorate in 2023.
In question, the climate, the Ukrainian conflict and the increase in the price of foodstuffs. However, the problem existed before “the war in Ukraine”, points out the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a few days before his departure after ten years at the head of the organization.
Starvation risks
The conflict only “complicated”, “exacerbated” the problem. While Russia is not happy and suggests that it could question the agreement for the export of grain from Ukraine, Mr. Maurer wants “those who negotiated this arrangement” to decide to “the make it sustainable”. “The pace of exports must accelerate”, he also adds.
“Hunger is increasing and millions of people are threatened,” insisted Mr. Rocca, a few days before the UN General Assembly. In sub-Saharan Africa, a third of children under the age of five face the effects of lack of food.
In the Horn of Africa, faced with the threat of famine, “we must put an end once and for all” to the food crisis “which is not the first”, says Mr. Rocca.
A health crisis
If famine is declared in Somalia, “we know it will already be too late,” said the ICRC president. Tens of thousands of people will have died. “We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,” adds Mr. Rocca, adding that this leads to a health, migration and other components crisis.
“We need urgent and concrete action.” The IFRC President recalled that his organization and its national societies try to lead their response by anticipating problems thanks to weather indications.
Famine is a “slow” problem, Rocca noted. In countries facing conflict, families often have to flee before the harvest. Attackers loot crops. We need a long-term systemic approach that considers political, economic and even societal challenges, added the ICRC president.
We must move from emergency to investment in fragile states with a collaboration that “we do not yet know”, adds Mr. Maurer, who also said he was a little more optimistic for a lull in Yemen provided that the parties do their part. The ICRC and IFRC with its national societies are best positioned to respond, he also said.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats