Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 144: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which food aid and debt relief is targeting the situation in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33711/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 145: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in 2005 in relation to the alleviation of starvation and debt in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33712/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.

The elimination of starvation and chronic malnutrition in Africa is a key objective of Ireland's aid programme. The reduction of hunger is one of the most important tasks to which the international community can dedicate itself at this time. Hunger and malnutrition should have no place in the 21st century.

The millennium development goals adopted in 2000 aim, inter alia, to halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015. The review of these goals that led up to the recent UN summit in September, clearly identified Africa as the continent where progress was weakest and where most resources were needed. At the summit, the Taoiseach committed Ireland to reaching the UN target of 0.7% of GNP for overseas development assistance, ODA, by 2012. He also outlined a number of initiatives, including placing an even greater priority to addressing the scourge of hunger and food insecurity.

The symptoms of food insecurity and famine are malnutrition, hunger, disease and death. The causes are complex but include poverty, HIV-AIDS, climate, conflict, unsustainable agricultural practices, environmental degradation and poor policy choices. To address hunger in Africa, the international community and African governments must provide immediate relief through food assistance and associated supports. We must ensure that communities have both sufficient food and access to that food.

Ireland's long-term programme of development co-operation aims to reduce poverty and food insecurity through a wide range of interventions, with the ultimate aim of lifting communities out of the endless cycles of bare subsistence living. Our humanitarian programmes are designed to respond quickly and effectively with the aim of saving lives and rebuilding livelihoods. Both programmes work closely together for maximum effectiveness.

This year the World Food Programme, WFP, is struggling to feed 43 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. That is double the number in 1995. In 2005, it is estimated that over 2 million children in Africa will have lost their lives to hunger and related diseases.

The WFP is a key partner for Ireland in the struggle against hunger. Ireland provides the organisation with core funding to allow it to respond rapidly to emerging and under-funded crises. In addition, we also provide funding to specific and targeted emergencies. By the end of 2005, Ireland it is expected that Ireland will have provided over €12 million to the WFP for its operations. In 2005, Ireland has responded to a number of challenging emergencies throughout Africa. Working with partner UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross, we have delivered essential emergency and recovery assistance to Niger, Malawi, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The debt cancellation initiative agreed by the G8 countries in July 2005 will cancel nearly all the multilateral debt of 18 of the poorest countries in the world. Most of these are in Africa. For the first time, the most powerful countries have recognised that many poor countries need 100% debt cancellation if they are to address the needs of their people seriously. While I had hoped for more from this initiative, I recognise that it is an important basis from which we can continue to work for a complete and sustainable solution to the debt problem facing poor countries.