Thursday, 15 September 2011 - Strasbourg
Explanation of vote:
Motions for resolutions: RC B7-0490/2011
Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − I voted for this Resolution because it condemns the late mobilisation of the international community. The first drought alerts in the region were given in December 2010, and earlier action could have helped abate the current catastrophe. Tens of thousands of people have already died, 750 000 are imminently at risk of starvation and 12 million people across Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti are in urgent need of food aid. In this text, we ask for an increased mobilisation of EU aid to assist the worst affected areas and the most vulnerable population groups.
The Commission should provide food aid, healthcare, clean water and sanitation supplies immediately. It is also important to stress that, in order to guarantee food security, the EU and Horn of Africa Governments must link emergency assistance with a comprehensive sustainable programme focused on the agricultural sector.
[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]