Famine In Africa

EDM number 590 in 1990-91, proposed by Jim Lester on 11/03/1991.

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.

This motion has been signed by a total of 96 MPs, 19 of these signatures have been withdrawn.