togivepriority attention tonational foodplansandstrategies inrelation tothe investments neededtoreachthesocial andeconomic objectives ofnational development plans. Inthiscontext, theysupport therecommendations ofthe Committee onFoodAidPolicies andProgrammes, adopted atitsnineteenth session in May1985,toinclude explicitly therolesandfunctions offoodaidintheworkof theWorldBankconsultative groups andtheUNDProundtables. IV.IMPROVING ACCESS TCFOODBYTHEUNDERNOURISHED 33.Renewal bytheGeneral Assembly in1984ofthecommitrnent fortheeradication ofhunger andmalnutrition wasbasedontherecognition thathunger and malnutrition areessentially man-made andcantherefore beeliminated through human resolve. Themillions ofpeopleinAfricathreatened byfaminetoday,the 15million young-child deathsannually worldwidefrommalnutrition anddisease, andthegrowinq numbers ofchronically undernourished are,morethanlayearsafter theWorldFoodConference. adeplorable situation reauiring aframework forrenewed efforts andresolution. 34.Therefore, theMinisters strongly urgethatGovernments takedetermined and moresharply-focused actionthatmakestheelimination ofhunger andmalnutrition a trulycentral objective innational development. 35.Specifically, theMinisters recommend thatpolitical determination befocuûed onfourobjectives providing aframework foraccelerated andmoreeffective action byaIlcountries anddevelopment agencies: (a)Theprevention olfthelossoflifeandthehumansuffering caused by famine, through bothimmediate actiontoimprove disaster preparedness and management andlonqer-term efforts toremovetherootcausesoffamine; (b)Adrastic reduction ofinfantdeaths frommalnutrition anddisease and protection ofthegainsachieved, especially intimesofeconomic crisis; (c)Efforts toalleviate thefactors whichleadtogrowing worldhungerin theimmediate periodahead; (d)Redirected programmes forasubstantial raduction ofchronic hungerin the1990s. 36.Insupport oftheseobjectives, th~Ministers recommended thespecific actions mentioned below.First,intheareaoffamineprevention, theMinisters recommended that: -7-(a)FAOshouldbeencouraged, withthesupport ofaIlGovernments andprivate orqanizations, toaccelerate weIlco-ordinated assistance todrought-prone countries fortheestablishment andimprovement ofnational earlywarning systems; (b)AlIdisaster-prone countries shouldprepare contingency plansto strenqthen theirpreparadness andcapacity todealwithcrises, because thisarea offersopportunities fortechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries and couldenvisage suchco-operation intheframework oftheNon-Aligned PlanofAction forAfrican Agriculture; (c)Urgentefforts shouldbemadetoimprove effectiveness ofemergency fCOd aidandrelief, throuqh reorientation, totheextentpossible, towards programmes withtheparallel objective ofmeeting immediate foodandotherneeds,alongwith measures tostrengthen theeconomic andecological basisofpoor,at-risk communities andhouseholds. Inthatcontext, anappealwasmadetosupport theFAO rehabilitation planforAfrica. TheMinisters reauest thatareportbesubmitted totheCouncil's twelfth session ontheprogress madeformoreeffective integration ofemergency andgeneral foodaidprogrammes withrecovery and development. 37.Second, theMinisters statedthattheyareencouraged byr~:entprogress with nutrition andhealthinterventions toreduceinfantmortality andensurethe healthy development ofthenextgeneration. Thismomentum mustbemaintained. Theyparticularly urgestrongcontinuinq support tosuchinitiatives as"Revolution forChildSurvival" ofUnitedNations Children's Fund(UNICEF)/world Health Organization (WHO)JointNutrition Support Programme financed byItaly,theBeigian "Survival FundfortheThirdWorld" andrelatedinitiatives. 38.Third,aspartoftheefforts tohaItgrowinq hungerduringthe1980s,the Ministers attachhighpriority toactiontoprotect thealready fragile foodand nutrition levelsoflow-income families inthecurrent economic environment. This reauires anewco-operative effortbyGovernments, international financial institutions anddevelopment aqencies. Specifically, theMinisters reauest that:
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement or declaration by a group of ministers or government officials, focusing on the issues of hunger, malnutrition, and food security. It discusses the need for governments to take determined action to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, and outlines specific objectives and recommendations for achieving this goal. The text also touches on the importance of international cooperation and support from development agencies.

**Category**
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Humanitarian aid and relief, Health