Mexico advances against hunger

Monday, 01 December 2014 00:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thenews.com.mx

Mexico advances against hunger

FAO awards 13 nations after achieving Millenium Goals

THE NEWS

Mexico and 12 other countries were awarded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for their “notable progress in the fight against hunger,” after achieving the international objectives before the 2015 deadline.

The awards were given to representatives of the 13 countries by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at the organization headquarters in Rome.

Representing Mexico was the Undersecretary of Planning, Evaluation and Regional Development in the Social Development Secretariat, Juan Carlos Lastiri Quirós.

Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Gabon, Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius and Uruguay also received awards.

The first objective of the Millennium Development Goals — to reduce the proportion of people suffering from hunger by half — was just one of the advances that these countries made, said Graziano da Silva.

Another goal, proposed during the 1996 FAO World Food Summit — to cut the total number of starving people in half by 2015 — was the toughest objective, according the FAO Director-General.

“You have overcome great challenges in worldwide economic conditions and difficult political environments. You have demonstrated willpower and used the necessary means,” Graziano da Silva said.

The progress made toward the eradication of world hunger in the next 10 years “is gaining momentum,” said the FAO director-general, adding that 805 million people still suffer from chronic malnutrition.

To reach this objective, we must “improve the quality and the efficiency of nutrition systems, promote rural development, increase productivity and rural incomes, improve access to food and strengthen social protection, said Graziano da Silva.