UN hunger envoy calls on Member States to honour obligations and feed Sudan

The independent United Nations envoy on hunger today called on countries to honour their obligations under a global treaty and work alongside the authorities in Sudan to help feed the millions of Sudanese in need, after the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to cut its rations following a huge shortfall in funds.

According to a press release, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, is “deeply concerned by the drastic food cuts for millions of Sudanese as of May 2006,” and points out that the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights obliges States parties “to respond quickly and in an appropriate manner to emergency food situations on the territory of a State Member of the United Nations.”

Mr. Ziegler requested that Member States immediately honour their legal obligations and ensure the realization of the right to food of the suffering populations, in close collaboration with the authorities of Sudan. “This is urgently needed to save the lives of thousands of people in this country,” he said.

He called on the Government of Sudan, in cooperation with the UN, to address the problem of food security “in a long-term perspective.”

Millions of people in the Western Sudanese region of Darfur and Eastern Sudan who are already vulnerable to continued insecurity and displacement will receive daily rations of 1,050 kilocalories, only half of the minimum daily requirement of 2,100 kilocalories per person. “This is insufficient to sustain a healthy life,” the release stated.

Despite repeated appeals to donors, WFP has received just $238 million, or 32 per cent, of the $746 million needed. By reducing daily rations, the agency’s limited food stocks will last longer during the period between July to September when needs are greatest before the next harvest.

Yesterday, in an effort to highlight – and help alleviate – the severe lack of donations to the UN-led relief effort in the Darfur region, Secretary-General Kofi Annan decided to contribute the $500,000 he was awarded in February by the Zayed Prize for environmental leadership.

The WFP said in April that it would have to drastically reduce food rations this month for 6.1 million people all over Sudan, and Mr. Annan said last Friday that he hopes that not just governments but – as with the tsunami relief effort – ordinary citizens, corporations and others will step forward to help meet the urgent needs.