Statement by Kofi Annan on the hunger crisis in Eastern and Southern Africa

I am deeply concerned about the acute hunger crisis that is afflicting many countries across Eastern and Southern Africa. Due to severe droughts and erratic rains caused by one of the strongest El Niño weather events in the past 50 years, millions of people in countries such as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and others in the region, are at acute risk and in urgent need of food assistance.

I appeal to the international community to take urgent action and mobilise adequate resources to avert a massive humanitarian tragedy.

Africa is potentially an agricultural powerhouse. The continent has 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land and could grow enough food to meet its own needs and export surpluses. Yet hundreds of millions go hungry. Despite recent progress, Africa’s farmers, most of whom are smallholders, underperform. The Kofi Annan Foundation advocates the transformation of African agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security for all by mobilising leadership and high-level commitment. We bring together leaders from the private sector, civil society and the political sphere to trigger cooperation that benefits farmers and the general population.

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Statement by Kofi Annan on the hunger crisis in Eastern and Southern Africa

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