United Kingdom

The British government urged United Nations aid agencies to improve and speed up their responses to disasters. “We need a humanitarian system that can adapt to these new pressures and make the most of the resources we have available,” said U.K. Department for International Development Minister Gareth Thomas, who warned that more rampant emergencies fueled by war, global warming and food price hikes are likely to occur in poor nations. He also challenged the U.N. to make funding immediately accessible in any event that emergency situations unfold. (Reuters)