Save the Children says G7 hunger commitment a ‘small start’ but more needed

The sentiment is echoed with Canada’s $250M pledge, with calls for preventative actions

OTTAWA, 28 June 2022 – Save the Children welcomed the G7 commitment of US$4.5 billion to fight global hunger, but said more was needed to tackle the world’s worst global hunger crisis in decades. In Canada, Save the Children welcomed Prime Minister Trudeau’s recent commitment of $250 million in new funds for the humanitarian response focused in sub-Saharan Africa. In the lead up to the G7 Summit, Canadian humanitarian organizations had been pushing Canada for a $600M commitment to respond to the urgent needs as well as put in place measures to prevent future crises.  Taryn Russell, Save the Children Canada’s Head of Policy and Advocacy, had the following response to the G7’s commitment to the hunger crisis:

“As the hunger crisis is worsening around the world to catastrophic levels, Canada’s $250 million commitment will allow the international humanitarian community to scale up in many of the hardest hit countries – saving the lives of children and families. In the coming months, we are looking to Canada and other G7 countries for a continued response as this crisis evolves.

Looking beyond the current crisis, while Canada’s commitment is welcome, the G7 overall has failed to commit to meaningful, long-term action to tackle the cyclical, predictable crises that threaten millions of lives, including climate change and conflict. Continuing to act purely reactively will cost us all so much more– in lives and in money – than acting strategically to address the root causes of these crises.

While more than 50% of global humanitarian crises are predictable, tragically only 1% of funding is allocated to preparedness and early action. This is completely illogical and not reflective of the current world we live in where climate change is exacerbating human suffering on an unprecedented scale.

Investment in early and anticipatory action, strengthening resilience of communities by enabling fast and flexible aid flows to local actors who need it most, and scaling up shock-responsive health, nutrition and social protection systems, are the only ways to prevent this happening again.

It is not too late to save lives now and protect children’s futures but leaders must do so much more than what we saw at the G7. This response is a small start but it’s by no means job done.”

Background: 

Droughts, floods, heatwaves, wildfires and hurricanes are claiming the lives of children every day, disrupting livelihoods and education, and forcing millions of children and families to flee their homes and communities in search of safety, food, water and essential health services.

Up to 283 million people across 81 countries could be acutely food insecure or at high risk this year as a perfect storm of climate, conflict and Covid has resulted in crop failures, food shortages, skyrocketing prices on basic staples, along with inequality and economic system collapse.

Save the Children has identified a staggering 21 priority countries where children’s lives are in danger due to famine risk. Twenty-one countries where children do not have enough food to survive. The devastating combination of climate change, conflict and economic drivers has created an untenable situation where millions of lives may be lost.

The impacts of season after season of drought in some areas and flooding in others have been compounded by the Ukraine conflict. The crisis in Ukraine is having knock-on effects that are driving the prices of basic staples sky high. The Ukraine flag is meant to symbolize a vast blue sky over a field of wheat, celebrating the country’s status as the world’s fifth largest exporter of wheat—a staple grain for millions of people.

Children from Ethiopia to Yemen, Syria to Afghanistan, and Somalia to Kenya need urgent action now. Their lives are at stake in what can only be described as a global catastrophe.

ENDS