NGOs react to G8 statement from Camp David

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the U.S.-based NGO alliance InterAction released the following quotes in response to the final communique issued by G8 leaders at the end of their talks at Camp David on Saturday.

ActionAid
"The G8 have offered warm words on food security but have failed to make a specific pledge to simply maintain L'Aquila level financial commitments going forward. In failing to deliver this, they have turned their backs on the women smallholder farmers who are so vital to food security in Africa. "
Katie Campbell, Senior Policy Analyst for ActionAid USA

InterAction
"The Food Security and Nutrition Alliance approved by the G8 today is an encouraging step. But it does not detract from the fact that G8 nations need to live up to past promises, including the funds pledged for food and agricultural aid at the G8 in L'Aquila in 2009. So far, just over half of the $22 billion L'Aquila money has been disbursed. The world's one billion hungry are waiting."
Samuel A. Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction

ONE Campaign
"The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition marks an important step forward in the fight against hunger and extreme poverty in Africa. We thank President Obama for his leadership on this plan and his commitment yesterday to sustain the L'Aquila promises on funding and policy coordination. But we are disappointed by the lack of a firm promise by the G8 today to maintain such support. While some countries appear to have really stepped up to the plate, the G8 collectively missed an opportunity to build the New Alliance at the scale that is needed to get the job done."
Michael Elliott, President and CEO, ONE Campaign

Oxfam
"The G8 made a commitment in 2009 to stand with developing countries for better or for worse. Poor countries have presented the G8 country-led, sustainable, and coordinated plans for food security and agricultural development, but today the G8 gave them the cold shoulder. We now look to the UK to be more ambitious next year and deliver on the fight against global hunger."
Lamine Ndiaye, Oxfam Pan-Africa GROW Campaign

Save the Children
"G8 leaders can't let the economic crisis in Europe cast a dark shadow over the bright promise they rolled out with African leaders this weekend."
Michael Klosson, Vice President of Policy and Humanitarian Response, Save the Children

World Vision U.S.
"It's ironic that the G8 has referenced its commitment to transparency and applauded themselves for this year's accountability report - yet the leaders still haven't shared it with the people most affected by these issues. While we applaud the real progress that has been made on food security and nutrition, if we had to give the G8 a grade right now, it would be incomplete."
Adam Taylor, Vice President for Advocacy, World Vision U.S.

SOURCE InterAction

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