Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa and Global Health, today convened the seventh in a series of dialogues set to increase communications between Congress and the African Diplomatic Corps. This afternoon’s dialogue specifically examined nutrition in areas of conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa hosts more than 1.5 million refugees, and within African countries, an estimated 12.4 million are internally displaced.
“As problematic as it is to achieve and maintain proper nutrition in normal circumstances, all too many African countries must cope with the impact of conflict – in their own countries or as a result of conflict in neighboring countries,” Smith said. “Governments involved in conflict and their neighbors are faced with providing services to affected populations, but while shelter and medicine are usually provided, nutrition too often suffers – both for refugee populations and citizens within these countries.”
The event’s keynote speaker was Ambassador Tony Hall, former Member of Congress and former head of the U.S. mission to the United Nations agencies in Rome: the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. He is a three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Make no mistake, these famines we are talking about today are manmade, and it takes leaders to alleviate the suffering caused by them,” said Hall. “Today, we are confronted with the harrowing fact that 20 million people in four countries are on the verge of starving to death. And this brings me to my message to you today. In a world where as a whole we have made so much progress, but are also seeing dire emergency situations right now, why would we even dream of considering any cuts to food aid and development programs? This is not only irresponsible, but also inhumane.”
The other speakers at the dialogue were: Ms. Beth Dunford, Assistant U.S. Agency for International Development Agency Administrator for Food Security and Deputy Coordinator for Development for Feed the Future; Tanzania Ambassador Wilson Mutagaywa Masilingi and Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador Daouda Diabaté.
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