Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
78 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the World Food Programme global meeting held in Dublin earlier in June 2004; the way in which the extra €1.5 million pledged by the Government for the WFP will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18831/04]
View answerThe World Food Programme, WFP, is a key partner for Ireland in the fight against global hunger. In 2003 alone, the WFP met the needs of over 100 million people in 81 countries. Food deliveries to hungry families by the agency increased by 57% compared to 2002.
The WFP global meeting, the first to be organised for five years, took place in Dublin from 7 to 10 June. The choice of Ireland for the meeting is a reflection of Ireland's growing role and reputation in humanitarian action and development co-operation. The global meeting brought together all the WFP's country directors from across the world, senior management and a number of experts in the field of food security and related areas. An important objective of the global meeting was to provide a forum for discussion and an examination of best practice in relation to meeting the needs of the world's hungry. The delegates were addressed by, inter alia, the WFP’s executive director, Mr. James Morris, the administrator of USAID, Mr. Andrew Natsios and the UN’s Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Jan Egeland. The private sector and NGOs also had the opportunity to participate in the discussions.
The global meeting has given the WFP a renewed sense of mission focusing on the target of reaching the millennium development goal, MDG, of halving world hunger by 2015. The WFP is uniquely placed to give impetus to actions in relation to this goal. When I spoke to the delegates, I assured them that Ireland will continue to work with the WFP as a key partner, in our shared goal of saving lives and rebuilding livelihoods.
During the course of the global meeting, I announced additional funding of €1.5 million for the WFP. Of this new funding, €500,000 will be utilised to meet the food needs of those made so vulnerable by the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The remaining €1 million is currently being allocated by the WFP to other pressing humanitarian emergencies. This new funding brings Ireland's commitment to the WFP this year to approximately €9 million — including assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
