A group of prominent relief organizations has called for reform of a high-level United Nations task force on famine prevention, arguing it cannot act quickly enough to prevent mass starvation in places such as Somalia.
The NGOs claim the system takes too long to develop plans and mobilize a response that could avert deaths before they begin, instead waiting until potentially hundreds of thousands have already perished.
The International Rescue Committee, Action Against Hunger, and World Vision want the task force, established by the secretary-general in 2021, to expand its membership and include NGOs, donors, and international financial institutions so they have a voice in drawing up famine response plans to ensure they are more preventative.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
