United Nations Radio

Today, Thursday 16th October is World Food Day.

And,...in a message to mark the occasion, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the Day comes at a time of crisis with global financial turmoil exacerbating concerns about rising food and fuel costs, which have already driven 75 million people deeper into the abyss of hunger and poverty.

He says "this colossal human tragedy is unfolding as we fight to keep the promise made in the first Millennium Development Goal: to reduce hunger and poverty by half by the year 2015.

Secretary-General Ban calls for a global response to the critical challenges such as addressing climate change, and responding to the global food and energy crises.

He urges governments, organizations and citizens to forge meaningful partnerships to overcome these challenges to meet al of the Millennium Development Goals, and ultimately usher in a world free of hunger and poverty.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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