WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today met with Josette Sheeran, the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) to discuss the effects of the growing food crisis on human lives as well as national and global security. Recently, Senator Casey urged President Bush to increase food aid to $550 million in the FY08 Emergency Supplemental.
“Now more than ever, millions of people around the world are going to bed and waking up hungry,” said Senator Casey. “This crisis has reached a turning point with riots in the streets and people starving to death. We must do all that we can to help now. The World Food Program is an important organization that helps some of the world’s poorest and unstable nations. I am pleased to have met with Josette Sheeran, and I look forward to working with her in the future.”
At today’s meeting, Senator Casey and Ms. Sheeran discussed the increase in global food prices and what the Unites States can do to help. Senator Casey is advocating for an increase in this year’s FY08 Emergency Supplemental of $200 million.
Senator Casey also talked about his ideas for long-term solutions to the crisis which would include helping developing nations increase their agricultural production, in part by improving their crop yields, and improving overseas food distribution networks and storage facilities so that more of the food that is donated will feed the hungry instead of spoiling in warehouses.
In light of the recent cyclone which devastated the country of Burma and has left thousands dead and even more without food and water, Senator Casey and Ms. Sheeran also talked about aid to the Burmese people.
“This is the worst natural disaster our world has seen in years with a catastrophic aftermath. We need to do all we can to help provide water, food, shelter and sanitation to the people of Burma. I am going to continue to work with the World Food Program as well as other international non-governmental agencies to provide the much needed relief,” said Senator Casey.
The World Food Program is the food aid branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian agency. This year, the WFP will feed at least 73 million people in 78 countries around the world. Based in Rome, with more than 80 offices in countries around the world, the WFP seeks to deliver emergency food aid to those people in need as well work on longer-term strategies to enhance the ability of poor nations to feed themselves. It was formally established in 1963 at the initiative of George McGovern, who was then the director of the U.S. Food for Peace program and who called for the establishment of a multilateral food aid program. The World Food Program relies on voluntary donations from national governments, corporations, and private citizens.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey urged the committee to increase investments in nutrition programs and has introduced bipartisan legislation to provide funds for food assistance. He was among the first Members of Congress to address the global food crisis by drafting in early March a letter to Senate appropriators, signed by six other Members, advocating an expansion of emergency funds in the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill.
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“Now more than ever, millions of people around the world are going to bed and waking up hungry,” said Senator Casey. “This crisis has reached a turning point with riots in the streets and people starving to death. We must do all that we can to help now. The World Food Program is an important organization that helps some of the world’s poorest and unstable nations. I am pleased to have met with Josette Sheeran, and I look forward to working with her in the future.”
At today’s meeting, Senator Casey and Ms. Sheeran discussed the increase in global food prices and what the Unites States can do to help. Senator Casey is advocating for an increase in this year’s FY08 Emergency Supplemental of $200 million.
Senator Casey also talked about his ideas for long-term solutions to the crisis which would include helping developing nations increase their agricultural production, in part by improving their crop yields, and improving overseas food distribution networks and storage facilities so that more of the food that is donated will feed the hungry instead of spoiling in warehouses.
In light of the recent cyclone which devastated the country of Burma and has left thousands dead and even more without food and water, Senator Casey and Ms. Sheeran also talked about aid to the Burmese people.
“This is the worst natural disaster our world has seen in years with a catastrophic aftermath. We need to do all we can to help provide water, food, shelter and sanitation to the people of Burma. I am going to continue to work with the World Food Program as well as other international non-governmental agencies to provide the much needed relief,” said Senator Casey.
The World Food Program is the food aid branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian agency. This year, the WFP will feed at least 73 million people in 78 countries around the world. Based in Rome, with more than 80 offices in countries around the world, the WFP seeks to deliver emergency food aid to those people in need as well work on longer-term strategies to enhance the ability of poor nations to feed themselves. It was formally established in 1963 at the initiative of George McGovern, who was then the director of the U.S. Food for Peace program and who called for the establishment of a multilateral food aid program. The World Food Program relies on voluntary donations from national governments, corporations, and private citizens.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey urged the committee to increase investments in nutrition programs and has introduced bipartisan legislation to provide funds for food assistance. He was among the first Members of Congress to address the global food crisis by drafting in early March a letter to Senate appropriators, signed by six other Members, advocating an expansion of emergency funds in the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill.
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