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*(London, 25 July 2011)* Following an emergency meeting of the UN’s food
agency in Rome on the drought crisis in the Horn of Africa, ****
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Soren Ambrose from Action Aid says:****
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*“The world should not have to wait until there are starving children on TV
before action is taken on hunger. *
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*“Those of us working in international aid know that the scale of the East
Africa crisis could have been significantly reduced if governments had
mobilised enough food in advance. A well-managed system of regional food
reserves would have saved thousands of lives. *
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*“Now more than ever the G20 must step up and place food reserves at the top
of its agenda. *
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*“Today’s meeting in Rome should have shown leadership on this important
issue, but instead retreated into familiar rhetoric. *
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*“We are now looking to governments meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday to start
tabling solutions.”*
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ENDS****
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*For more information and interviews contact:*
Natalie Curtis, ActionAid International, +44 (0) 203 122 0641 or +44
(0)7931787025 or Natalie.Curtis@actionaid.org****
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