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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Jim Lester (Conservative), on Monday, 11 March 1991, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 93 members in total.

FAMINE IN AFRICA

That this House acknowledges the scale and extent of the famines in Africa which affect over 20 million people in sub-Saharan countries; is greatly alarmed by reports from the World Food Programme and non-governmental agencies which indicate that food pledges from international donors fall far short of what is needed; congratulates the Overseas Development Administration on its response so far; acknowledges the key role played by the European Community and USAID in responding to emergencies; urges Her Majesty's Government to press both the European Community and USAID to respond immediately and fully to meet food needs; recalls the reports of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in its deliberations on emergency aid which state that in exceptional emergency needs government should provide additional funding to the Overseas Development Administation; acknowledges that the present situation is an exceptional emergency; and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government to make available additional funds to enable both the Overseas Development Administration and the European Community, in which the United Kingdom plays a lead role, to meet the urgent needs of those people in Africa who face hunger and starvation.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

FAMINE IN AFRICA (590A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Baroness Primarolo (primary, Labour) and tabled on Wednesday, 13 March 1991. It has been signed by 67 members in total.
leave out from 'House' to end and add 'is alarmed by the extent of the famine facing 29 million people in 25 sub-Saharan countries; is shocked by reports from the World Food Programme and non-governmental agencies that food pledges from international donors fall far short of what is needed, and that food pipelines are about to run dry; views the ??27 million response of the Overseas Development Administration as totally inadequate to the crisis; condemns ODA for delaying ??11 million of this famine relief until the next financial year; recalls the recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that ODA's budget should be increased in exceptional emergencies; believes that this famine is an exceptional emergency that demands additional money from the Government; notes that the Minister for Overseas Development said: "If I needed more money I could go and get it" (The Guardian, 22/ 2/91); believes that she is neglecting her duty if she considers that it is not necessary to request additional Treasury funds for this crisis; moreover, notes that the aid budget for developing countries is still 12 per cent. lower in real terms than in 1979; and calls on the Government to send immediate additional famine relief to Africa and to increase the aid budget to meet the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP over five years.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
590 
590A1 
Session
1990-91
Subjects
Disaster relief Africa International assistance EU action Famine Overseas Development Administration Food aid World Food Programme USAID
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk