Tag: food aid

SPECIAL REPORT / The Obama administration is proposing a major overhaul of food aid that would for the first time put America’s overseas policy in line with European practices of providing cash and other alternatives to bulk shipments.

Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday (18 August) that she would strive to make sure that the EU, which is usually the biggest donor in disaster areas, sees its flag fly. She claimed this had not been possible so far because humanitarian organisations responsible for distributing EU aid had insisted on pushing their brand instead.

United Nations officials last week called on governments, donors and other stakeholders to set up a global partnership for food security at a high-level meeting convened in Madrid for the end of January.

Development NGOs such as Oxfam have largely welcomed an agreement reached by EU budget ministers and MEPs on 21 November to provide €1 billion to the world's poorest farmers, but urged the EU to address the "structural problems" that fuelled the food crisis.

The current crisis in the global food system, caused by dramatic price rises, provides an opportunity to assure long-term food security and avoid problems in future, argue three essays in the annual report of the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The United States have formally called on the EU, NATO and other international donors to send emergency aid, six days after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving thousands dead.