ofFrance, forinviting theCouncil toconveneitsmeeting thisyearinParis. In hisaddress, President Whelanreviewed theprincipal conclusions developed bythe Ministers atthetenthsession oftheCouncil!Iin1984atAddisAbabaandthe out~~anding tasksidentified atthattimetoachieve theobjectives oftheWorld FoodConference. Hereported onsomeprogress thathadbeenmadepertaining to thesetasks,butindicated thatoverall developments we4enotencouraging, noting especially thatmeasures toimprove thedistribution ofavailable globalfood supplies -otherthanthrough emergency foodaiddeliveries -atboththenational levelandforthebenefit ofthepoer,continued tobeelusive. 10.Mr.Whelantolddelegates ofasenseoffailure thathehadperceived during thepastyearJfor,inspiteoft.eefforts made,hepersonally founditappalling in1985tobelivingside-by-side withpreventable death. Heindicated thatthe Council hadbeenawareofthedeteriorating foodsituation inAfricaformany years. AttheCouncil's meeting inArushain1980,hehadexpresseà concern about thelackofprogress anddiscouraging trendsinAfricainregardtofood production. ThePresident askedwhathadbecomeoftherecommendations thathad beenadvanced bytheCouncil duringthepastfive-year period, withrespect to addressing thefoodproblem inAfrica. 11.Mr.Whelanspokeoftheneedtoimprove national andinternational support systems forthepoer,notingthatitisthepoor,usuallyilliterate, ruralpoor, whoarebeingforcedtoleavetheirlandandwhoarethefirstvictims ofhunger. Hedeplored thefactthatin1985theabsolute numberofpeople whohavetomanage withlessthanadequate foodintakehasincreased, withthehighest increase in calorie-deficient population -some25percent-occurring inAfrica. Hedeplored especially that15million children undertheageoffivedieeveryyearfrom malnutrition anddisease. Infact,p0rvasive andpersistent povertystillsmothers thehopesofmillions uponmillions ofourfellowmen,notjustinAfricabut everywhere wherepeoplelacktheopportunity toearntheirdailycalorie needs. He said,tounderstand thecausesofpoverty andhunger, oneshouldnotlooksimplyat thepoerandmalnourished themselves, butattheirrelationship withtherestof society. 12.ThePresident observed thatnewpolicies andprogrammes insupport ofthe smallproducer aracritically important inthestruggle against hungerand malnutrition. Henotedthatdevelopment assistance hasconcentrated onurbanareas andlargeruralinfrastructure projects, usually totheneglect oftheneedsofthe smallsubsistence farmers. Notonlyhavesuchapproaches displaced thesmall farmer, buttheyhavealsocontributed teenvironmental degradation. Hespoke abouthisprofound sadness anddisappointment thatthesecondreplenishment ofthe International FundforAgricultural Development (IFAD), aninstitution devoted te -16-providing assista beensettled. He thecauseofthe onlyUnitedNatio observed thatfun strategically-pos aremodestrelati Inthisrespect, development ofit 13.ThePresiden pasttwoyearsto movement ofpeole aremigrating to lifeinAfrica. anemergency basi isancbvious nee andinsodoingt withtheenviron andrepeated sev emergency foodai donorsandalla thespecial logi distribution of drawing onhise hadaskedhimsel couldbemoreef oftheBureaush Thesewerematte thecourseofth 14.Atpresent, Argentina** Australia* Bangladesh* Brazil*** Bulgaria*** Burundi** Canada*** Central Africar chile** china*** Ecuador* Ethiopia* Finland** *Term0 **Term0 ***Term0providing assistance tothesmallfarmerandalleviating ruralpoverty, hasnotyet beensettled. Hesuggested thatitwasinappropriate forMinisters whochampion thecauseofthesmallfarmertobepartytoaprocess whichmaydebilitate the onlyUnitedNationsinstitution thôtdealsdirectly withthesmallfarmer. He observed thatfundstoreplenish IFADandtounderwrite other strategically-positioned institutions activeinthefoodandagricultural sector aremodestrelative toexpenditures madeonmilitary hardware bysomecountries. Inthisrespect, headvocated adoubling ofexternal assistance toAfricaforthe development ofitsagriculture sector. 13.ThePresident spokeofthemanytravels hehadmadeduringthecourseofthe pasttwoyearstodeveloping countries. Heexpressed particular concern aboutthe movement ofpeoleinsearchoffoodandshelter inAfrica. Infact,morepeople aremigrating tourbanareastoescapefrompoverty andthedifficulties ofrural lifeinAfrica. ThePresident cautioned thatfoodaid,evenwhenitisprovided on anemergency basls,shouldnotfuelandpromote thismovement. Hesaidthatthere
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a speech by a president, focusing on the topic of food security, poverty, and humanitarian aid in Africa. The speech highlights the struggles of small farmers, the need for international support, and the consequences of poverty and hunger. It also touches on the topic of environmental degradation and the importance of addressing the root causes of poverty.

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