Ministerial-level meeting to address drought crisis

Horn of Africa to be focus of 25 July session in Rome

FAO is convening an emergency ministerial-level meeting on Monday 25 July 2011 to address deteriorating drought conditions in the Horn of Africa and several other regions worldwide.

Organized at the request of the French Government, currently chairing the G20, the meeting will look at possible measures to address the crisis, which is affecting food supplies and prices in several countries. The meeting itself does not intend to be a pledging conference.

In a special report published on 20 July 2011, the FAO-managed Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit for Somalia and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network officially declared a state of famine in two regions of southern Somalia. The report warns that in the next one or two months famine will become widespread throughout southern Somalia.

Participation in the meeting is by invitation.  In addition to FAO Member Governments, and the UN System, a wide range of international nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations are expected to attend. 

Technical background papers will be published on this webpage as they become available.

FAO wishes to thank the French and Spanish Governments for their generous contribution to the organization of this event.

For further information:  
Email: Horn-of-Africa@fao.org

Media inquiries:
Tel: (+39) 06 570 53625
Email: FAO-Newsroom@fao.org
Fax: (+39) 06 5705 3729

Media accreditations:
For media accreditation please send a copy of a valid press card or a letter of assignment on company stationery and a copy of passport/ID to: FAO-Newsroom@fao.org.

Photographic coverage of the meeting will be made available at FAONews on Flickr, or by contacting the FAO photo-library@fao.org (+39) 06 570 55980).

To request video material / b-roll: (+39) 06 570 55980 / 53963.