Famine spurs Irish to tackle hunger crisis: Annan
The haunting memory of the Great Famine has shaped Ireland’s commitment to eradicating world hunger, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan said today.
Mr Annan said the country had triumphed over hunger and reaffirmed its financial backing to the cause in its Budget just two days ago.
He also commended the work of Ireland’s Hunger Task Force, which is identifying how to contribute to international efforts to reduce food shortages.
Mr Annan told an international conference in Dublin, hosted by aid agency Concern, that his heartfelt thanks goes to the Irish Government for its dedication to ending hunger in Africa.
“The Hunger Task Force report calls for action and real political commitment to increase the productivity of Africa’s smallholder farmers, the vast majority of whom are women, if we are to succeed in ending poverty and hunger,” said Mr Annan, chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
“Ireland is a country that has known, and triumphed over hunger.
“Through the tragic failure of its own agriculture system, Ireland learned first hand of the importance of robust and diversified agriculture for prosperity and growth.
“The haunting memory of the Great Famine of the 19th century still shapes Ireland’s commitment to defeating global fight against hunger.”
Mr Annan’s praise was echoed by Jeffrey Sachs, special adviser to UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon and a key member of the Hunger Task Force.
The report, presented to Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the UN in New York last month, recommends improving small holder productivity in Africa; enhancing efforts to tackle maternal and infant under-nutrition; and delivering on existing commitments and ensuring coherent worldwide efforts to address hunger.
Prof Sachs said he was honoured to celebrate Concern’s 40th anniversary at the conference and the work of chief executive Tom Arnold, who he maintained was respected all over the world.
“I very much appreciate that the Irish government followed through on its aid commitment in what is no doubt the most difficult project in living memory in this country,” said Prof Sachs.
“The government has made it very clear it is not going to pretend to balance the crisis on the backs of the world’s poorest people because this is a tendency we may see in some of our governments and Ireland said no, it remains committed to its development objective.
“I think this is good value for the Irish people.
“Not only in a humanitarian sense but in a sense of Ireland’s leadership in the world and in the sense of national security and global security.
“The only way we are going to find security in what is clearly an insecure world is through following up on our commitments to address the poorest of the poor.”
