Tuesday 14 February 2012
West Africa: WFP Organizes Joint Meeting to Address Worsening Situation in the Sahel Region
This meeting comes at a critical time where humanitarian agencies are strengthening their response to prevent a crisis becoming a disaster.
By Staff Writer
ROME - The World Food Programme (WFP) is organizing a meeting of heads of aid agencies and heads of donor governments, Wednesday, February 15 at the Headquarters of WFP, in Rome to deliberate on the urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance in the Sahel, where drought and food shortages have caused a food crisis and threatened lives.
"The needs of millions of people affected by drought in the Sahel are enormous, and it is time to act now," said Josette Sheeran, WFP Executive Director. "This meeting comes at a critical time where humanitarian agencies are strengthening their response to prevent a crisis becoming a disaster."
The WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran will chair the meeting, which will present the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, President of the Fund Agricultural Development (IFAD), Kanayo F. Nwanze, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation , Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Ms. Georgieva, and the Deputy Administrator of USAID, Nancy Lindborg.