Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 7

Written Answers. - World Hunger Statistics.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

18 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current statistics from the UN on world hunger; if these figures are increasing; and the steps, if any, the Government are taking and will be taking to tackle this very serious issue. [4859/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Current UN statistics on world hunger indicate that almost 800 million people in developing countries today face chronic malnutrition and 200 million children under the age of five suffer from acute or chronic protein and energy deficiencies. At present, as many as 88 nations fall into the category of low-income food-deficit countries, of which 42 are in sub-Saharan Africa and 19 in Asia and the Pacific.

According to current UN estimates, the world population will increase from the present 5.7 billion to 8.7 billion by the year 2030. Projections indicate that without action to reverse present trends, the number of chronically undernourished people will continue to increase.

It is unacceptable that hunger and malnutrition should continue to diminish the lives and human potential of nearly 20 per cent of the world's population at a time of unparalleled technological progress.

While food aid can help aleviate emergency situations, it cannot be relied upon to solve the problem of recurring food deficits. To ensure adequate food security, continuing emphasis must be placed on achieving lasting sustainable development in the poorest countries.

The Government is fully aware of the seriousness of this problem and is determined that Ireland should play a full part in the international efforts to combat hunger. This is reflected in the Government's commitment to increasing Ireland's official development assistance each year, so as to make steady progress towards achieving the UN goal of 0.7 per cent of GNP.

Ireland's most direct contribution to the fight against hunger is made through the Irish Aid programme, which is focussed on the provision of assistance to the poorer developing countries and to the most disadvantaged sections of their populations. The Irish Aid country programmes have the objectives of addressing basis needs and local capacity building for sustainable development and involve a significant emphasis on agricultural and rural development projects. Irish Aid also contributes directly to the alleviation of hunger through its support for the activities of Irish NGOs in the areas of food aid and agricultural development.

The Irish Aid Advisory Committee recently submitted a report by Mr. Nick Chisholm of University College Cork which makes a series of recommendations in respect of Irish Aid's involvement in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. These recommendations are now under consideration and the Government will ensure that Irish Aid continues to give a clear emphasis to food security as part of our overall policy strategy.

At the multilateral level, Ireland is involved in the promotion of economic development through its contributions to the development activities of the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank group. Of most direct significance to the fight against hunger are our contributions to the UN agriculture and food agencies — the FAO, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development — which seek to combat the poverty, malnutrition and hunger affecting developing countries through the promotion of agricultural development and the provision of food aid. In 1995, Ireland contributed over £1.5 million to the World Food Programme, most of which was committed to emergency food operations in Africa.

A World Food Summit under FAO auspices will take place in Rome at Head of Government level in November 1996. The summit is expected to renew the international commitment to achieving food security and to adopt a plan of action to eliminate hunger and prevent famine. The Government intends to play a full part during our EU Presidency in ensuring a successful and substantive outcome to this summit.