Meeting on 18 August to address worsening food crisis

In rapid follow-up to the Emergency Ministerial-Level Meeting on the drought in the Horn of Africa held on 25 July 2011 at FAO headquarters in Rome, the Organization is inviting its member countries, and humanitarian and development partners to a second session in Rome on 18 August 2011 to respond to the deteriorating food situation in the Horn of Africa.

Famine has been formally declared in several regions of Somalia. Populations in neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda are also affected by the crisis, triggered by drought and increasing food prices on local markets.

The 18 August meeting, at FAO headquarters in Rome, is expected to take stock of the evolving situation, including funding requirements and shortfalls, and to discuss the status of actions taken to date to save lives and livelihoods. Building on initiatives of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the meeting will look at root causes of the crisis and the longer-term needs of countries in the region to sustainably enhance livelihood resilience on a wide scale. It would also contribute to the preparation for the Pledging Conference for countries of the Horn of Africa to be convened by the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Meeting agenda and background documentation will be published on this page as they become available.

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 accreditation:

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 53399).

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