IPU calls for urgent action to stave off spread of famine in Africa

Geneva 23 February 2017

Famine is threatening millions of people in Africa. © UNICEF/UNI201746/Rich

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is extremely concerned about the spreading famine in Africa. Famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan, affecting over 100,000 people. The United Nations has warned that it is likely to spread to Yemen, Somalia and Nigeria.

The IPU is joining the international community in urging measures to ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, especially for the most vulnerable.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong called for the humanitarian aid to be allowed to reach the people. “Once again, the international community has to come together to prevent the famine from spreading any further and avoid more deaths from what are essentially man-made catastrophes. Governments in the countries affected must resolve their conflicts and make it their priority to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who are most in need of it.” Mr. Chungong is a member of the Lead Group of Scale Up Nutrition (SUN), set up to respond to the crisis of malnutrition. SUN’s mission is to eliminate malnutrition by 2030.