The world must do more to combat growing global food insecurity aggravated by Russia's war in Ukraine, African Development Bank Group Presient Akinwumi Adesina told G7 representatives at a ministerial conference.
The German government organized the "Uniting for Global Food Security" conference to coordinate responses to the global food crisis caused by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the war in Ukraine.
In her opening speech, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for the urgent provision of humanitarian aid, especially to vulnerable groups, due to the war and the disruption of agricultural production in Ukraine, which is one of the most critical food baskets in the world. She said Germany would provide 2.8 billion euros in 2022 to its humanitarian partners to support relief efforts.
"We call on everyone to join forces to help put food on the plate of the starving, bring medicine to the sick and provide shelter to those whose homes have been taken away from them," she pleaded. "In all of this, our response must be swift and bold – it is no easy task, but we are here today to say that we are acting united around the world."
In a speech made by Mr. Adesina, he urged Germany and other G7 countries to support the $1.5 billion African emergency food production plan jointly developed by the Bank and the Union. Africa to help African countries avert an impending food crisis.
"I carry the voice of the 1.3 billion people in Africa threatened by an impending food crisis resulting from this war. For Africa, however, we must go beyond emergency food aid. We must prioritize food production. We have the technology to feed Africa - Africa does not need to hold bowls in hand to beg for food. Africa needs seeds in the ground to produce food for itself."
Africa is heavily dependent on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine. Due to the war, the continent faces a shortage of at least 30 million tons of food, especially wheat, corn and soybeans imported from the two countries.
The African Emergency Food Production Facility will provide 20 million smallholder farmers with certified seeds. The plan will increase their access to agricultural fertilizers and enable them to rapidly-produce 38 million tons of food worth $12 billion.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thundered: "We've all cited numbers about this growing food insecurity. But what we do know is this: we know those numbers are people, real people, lives real, real livelihoods, mothers, fathers, children."
According to Mr. Blinken, it is time to turn the responsibilities and promises of the different blocs and institutions into concrete actions. He said the United States last month approved $5.5 billion in new funding for global food security and humanitarian assistance, in addition to an earlier commitment of $2.8 billion.
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