[pronut-hiv] Senegal: Thousands to March Against Hunger

["ProNut-HIV" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>]

Senegal: Thousands to March Against Hunger

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks 
May 19, 2006
Dakar

Thousands of Senegalese are expected to take part in Sunday's global
Walk the World initiative because "hunger kills more than HIV/AIDS,
malaria and TB combined," the World Food Programme's national director
Omar Bula said Friday.

The event, which has been running for three years, is expected to raise
US $5 million for WFP's global school feeding programme.

"Hungry children concern the entire world and every Senegalese knows
that a well-fed child today is a powerful force for Senegal tomorrow,"
Bula added.

Around 15,000 people are expected to march in the capital Dakar, and
some 3,000 in the provincial towns of Ziguinchor and Kaolack, with the
accent placed on school feeding projects that account for three-quarters
of WFP spending.

In Senegal, the UN agency feeds more than 260,000 schoolchildren aged
between seven and 12. Bula said that only US $0.20 were needed per day
to feed a child at school. "This is nothing."

"There is enough food in the world to feed every inhabitant on the
planet and it is unacceptable that currently a child dies of hunger
every five seconds," he added.