UN Agencies Urge WTO to Protect Food Aid Donations Amid Global Shortfalls

As the world grapples with rising food prices and humanitarian crises, three of the largest agencies of the United Nations - the World Food Program, the UN refugee agency UNHCR, and the UN Children's Fund - have issued a joint statement urging negotiators at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to protect food aid donations. The agencies expressed concern that reforms to international agricultural trade could lead to the erosion of food aid, which is crucial for millions of vulnerable people worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• The World Food Program reports a significant drop in global food aid from 10.2 million metric tons in 2003 to 7.5 million metric tons in 2004.
• The UNHCR and UN Children's Fund have emphasized the crucial role of food aid in humanitarian operations, particularly in Africa where chronic shortfalls in food rations for refugees are common.
• The agencies have expressed concern that WTO negotiations could lead to the restriction of food aid donations, which could exacerbate malnutrition and starvation, particularly among women and children.
• Over 90 percent of deaths from hunger and malnutrition occur outside of classic emergencies like Darfur or the Pakistan earthquake.
• The agencies have recommended that donor governments prioritize the needs of hungry women and children in the Doha Round of trade talks.
• The three chiefs of the agencies have urged negotiators to put humanitarian considerations first when addressing food aid.

Statistics:

• Global food aid has dropped to 7.5 million metric tons in 2004 from 10.2 million metric tons in 2003.
• More than 90 percent of deaths from hunger and malnutrition occur outside classic emergencies.
• Over 7 million metric tons of food aid are needed annually to meet humanitarian needs worldwide.
• Chronic shortfalls in food rations for refugees in Africa have resulted in malnutrition and mortality.

Sources:

• World Food Program
• UN refugee agency UNHCR
• UN Children's Fund
• WTO (World Trade Organization)
• Xinhua News Agency