SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO REDEDICATE ITSELF TO FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER, IN MESSAGE FOR WORLD FOOD DAY
Press Release
SG/SM/6081
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO REDEDICATE ITSELF TO FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER, IN MESSAGE FOR WORLD FOOD DAY
19961016 Following is the text of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's message on the occasion of World Food Day, 16 October:I am delighted to send my best wishes to all those participating in the United Nations World Food Day.
This year, World Food Day is dedicated to the global challenge of "Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition". In a world of plenty, no one should have to face the evil of famine and starvation. Today, almost 800 million people are chronically undernourished. This is simply unacceptable.
Next month, the World Food Summit in Rome will provide an opportunity for decision makers to reinvigorate and refocus their efforts to end the global scourge of hunger. The Summit gives the world community a platform for adopting new policies and pledging new resources. These are both urgently needed. It is now 22 years since the World Food Conference established the goal of "eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition within a decade". Without new initiatives and a redoubling of efforts, the global fight against hunger and malnutrition will never be won.
World Food Day gives the world community the chance to rededicate itself to the fight against the global scourge of hunger and malnutrition.
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