LDCs call for global fund to address food crisis

29 September 2008

United Nations, September 29 – Ministers from the Least Developed Countries meeting at the United Nations in New York have expressed concern at the negative effects the global financial, food and oil crises are having on the world’s most vulnerable countries.

In a declaration adopted at the meeting, the ministers said that the crises would have “adverse effects on our people and further compound the structural weaknesses of our countries, undermining their ability to sustain development efforts and jeopardizing the advances made so far…”

The ministers proposed the establishment of an “International Food Fund to deal with the systematic threats to food security.” They also called for additional aid towards agricultural production, infrastructure, distribution and storage system, as well as the elimination of subsidies and barriers to trade that discourage food production.

Addressing the meeting, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Aisha-Rose Migiro said it was critical to strengthen the human, institutional and productive capacities of the Least Developed Countries to address mounting development challenges.

The High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra, said structural transformation was needed to diversify the export base, upgrade technology and create new employment opportunities for growing urban populations.

There are 49 countries classified as Least Developed Countries in the world.

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