15 Feb 2012

ROME / SAHEL

Leaders of UN agencies, representatives of affected governments and major donors today called for an urgent scale up of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance to address rising levels of hunger and malnutrition caused by the combined effect of drought, high food prices, displacement and conflict affecting the Sahel region of West Africa. WFP

Posted at: February 15, 2012 2:44 pm

Duration: 02:27

Available in: SD, HD

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STORY: ROME / SAHEL
TRT: 2.27
SOURCE: WFP
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2012, ROME, ITALY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

15 FEBRUARY 2012, ROME, ITALY

1.	Zoom out, participants arrive at press conference
2.	Close up, José Graziano da Silva is FAO's Director-General
3.	Wide shot, dais
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Josette Sheeran Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP):
"Today, leaders of the United Nations agencies, representatives of affected governments and major donors are calling for an urgent scale up of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance to address rising levels of hunger and malnutrition caused by the combined effect of drought, high food prices, displacement and conflict affecting the Sahel region of West Africa."
5.	Med shot, reporters
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Josette Sheeran Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP):
"This is a devastating drought. It's throwing more than ten million people into great food and nutrition insecurity. Today, more than one million children face urgent malnutrition which can have devastating long-term consequences."
7.	Med shot, reporters
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Kristalina Georgieva, European Union's Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response: 
"The governments of the region called for help. All of them, all of them have turned to the international community and said: Please help us now. And we from the European Commission are making a contribution of 275 million Euros for immediate action, but also to address the long term food insecurity of the region."

FILE - 21 NOVEMBER 2011, TILLABERY, NIGER

9.	Rack focus, failed millet crop due to drought
10.	Wide shot, women farmers
11.	Pan right, dried river bed

FILE - 13 NOV 2011, KAEDI, MAURITANIA

12.	Zoom in, dead livestock

FILE - 21 NOVEMBER 2011, TILLABERY, NIGER

13.	Med shot, child getting water from dried river bed
14.	Med shot, girl drinking water

FILE - 14 - 19 NOVEMBER 2011, KAYES AND KOULIKORO REGIONS, MALI

15.	Wide shot, people migrating in search of more productive land
16.	Zoom in, farmer showing failed crops due to drought

FILE - 23 JANUARY 2012, OUSSI, BURKINA FASO

17.	Wide shot, woman pounding grains
18.	Drought affected people
19.	Med shot, WFP ration bags

FILE -23 NOVEMBER 2011, SAY, NIGER

20.	Various shots, children eating
21.	Various shots, school children in the classroom

FILE - 22 NOVEMBER 2011, DOSSO, NIGER

22.	Various shots, malnourished children getting specialized nutritional products

STORYLYNE

Leaders of United Nations agencies, representatives of affected governments, and major donors today (15 February) called for an urgent scale up of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance to address rising levels of hunger and malnutrition caused by the combined effect of drought, high food prices, displacement and conflict affecting the Sahel region of West Africa.

After an emergency meeting at the headquarters of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome, participants agreed that the time for humanitarian action in the Sahel is now.

SOUNDBITE (English) Josette Sheeran Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP):
"Today, leaders of the United Nations agencies, representatives of affected governments and major donors are calling for an urgent scale up of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance to address rising levels of hunger and malnutrition caused by the combined effect of drought, high food prices, displacement and conflict affecting the Sahel region of West Africa."

Drought returned to the region following an erratic and late 2011 rainy season, bringing hunger to millions in the region for the third time in the past decade. In an area of the world where most people live only on what they can grow, inconsistent rains, failed harvests and dying animals mean that hunger is a fact of life for many.

SOUNDBITE (English) Josette Sheeran Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP):
"This is a devastating drought. It's throwing more than ten million people into great food and nutrition insecurity. Today, more than one million children face urgent malnutrition which can have devastating long-term consequences."

Leaders attending the meeting called for a comprehensive, rapid and robust response to the crisis to address the needs of the most vulnerable – especially women and children - among the millions who have been affected by drought.  They called for a combination of relief with early recovery and longer term development actions.

SOUNDBITE (English) Kristalina Georgieva, European Union's Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response: 
"The governments of the region called for help. All of them, all of them have turned to the international community and said: Please help us now. And we from the European Commission are making a contribution of 275 million Euros for immediate action, but also to address the long term food insecurity of the region."

In addition, they resolved to work together to meet immediate food security and nutritional needs of affected people, while supporting programmes that address the root causes of problems and help to strengthen resilience of communities living in areas that are affected by chronic drought.  This would include support to smallholder farmers to improve self-reliance and resilience in the face of difficult climatic and economic conditions.

All agreed on concrete steps to pave the way for a successful transition to early recovery and lay the foundation for sustainable development.