UN prepares famine funding effort

Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen - four countries facing the
threat of famine.

Continued violence has devastated investments in agriculture, and
millions may now die of hunger.

Earlier this year the United Nations issued an urgent appeal for $4.9
billion, but as of August only 51% of the money had been received.

Next week world leaders meet in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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TAKE VO
Getting food to 20 million people, spread across vast areas of land in
four nations, would be challenging in peacetime. But it's further
complicated by the conflicts in these countries. Here's Ron Redmond a
spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Redmond SOT: "The security situation on the ground is often so bad
that quite often we cannot reach these populations that need to
receive that food."

TAKE VO
Muslim extremists in Nigeria and Somalia, ethnic strife in South
Sudan, and civil war in Yemen.
The fighting is not only creating food insecurity, it's making it
harder to resolve.
To avert famine in these countries, the UN and aid groups engage in
longer-term peace and development efforts.
Professor Alice de Wall at the World Peace Foundation says that certainly helps.

de Wall SOT: "The kinds of early investments that the donors are
making in peace-building and stabilization and resilience are key to
the success of our diplomatic efforts to resolve the political
disputes. As well as to our military and peace-building efforts to
marginalize groups like al Shabaab."
TAKE VO
But with the U.S. proposing to slash by around a half the money it
gives to peacekeeping, these interventions may be harder to fund. As
it is, UN donations are far from hitting targets.
TAKE VO
According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, this year Yemen and Somalia are less than 50%
funded—a shortfall of more than $2 billion dollars for these two
countries alone. Ron Redmond again.

Redmond SOT: "It's extremely difficult because there are so many
competing needs, humanitarian needs, around the world. On top of that
there's a certain fatigue that has set in among some donors. The
international community sometimes looks at these as if they are
hopeless."

TAKE VO
A push for financial support from world leaders is essential at any UN
General Assembly. The threat of four famines hanging over this year's
meeting will make those requests even more pressing

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