Sir, – The summit taking place between the European Union and the African Union this week comes at a time when climate change, conflict and Covid-19 are contributing to rapidly rising rates of hunger across the continent.
In 2022, global hunger levels have reached alarming levels, with close to one billion people globally not having enough to eat. The long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will leave 30 million more people undernourished globally in 2030, with more than half of these in Africa, south of the Sahara.
Money that should be spent on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals is spent on addressing the humanitarian impact on civilians of ongoing war.
Africa had the highest number of children living in a conflict zone of any region, and it is the only region in the world that did not experience a decrease in political violence between 2019 and 2020.
Climate change is projected to push an additional 78 million people into hunger by 2030 projections, and more than half of these are expected to be in Africa. The EU and the AU must generate the level of political will necessary to secure and promote peace on the continent. Member states must commit to the eradication of hunger in all its forms by 2030, including the prevention and treatment of malnutrition as both a health and social protection priority.
The EU in particular, must make good on climate commitments, recognising that African countries are paying a high price for the failure of the global North to adapt practices to meet climate targets.
This summit is an opportunity to build a better future for all. It is essential that the summit focuses much-needed attention on the scale and impact of hunger on the African continent.
Food security and nutrition should be at the heart of this partnership if Zero Hunger is to be achieved by 2030. – Yours, etc,
RÉISEAL
NÍ CHÉILLEACHAIR,
Head of International
Advocacy,
Concern Worldwide,
Dublin 2.