International

End hunger, nations urged

ROME JUNE 10. Against the backdrop of possible famine in southern Africa and debate over genetically modified foods, delegates at the U.N. World Food Summit called on Monday for Governments to make good on pledges to end world hunger.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, opened the summit by urging greater access for the world's poorer farmers to land, credit, markets and technology — including technology to help them grow more disease-resistant crops. ``There is no shortage of food on the planet,'' Mr. Annan told delegates. ``But while some countries produce more than they need to feed their people, others do not, and many of these cannot afford to import enough to make up the gap.''

The summit is expected to conclude on Thursday with a declaration recommitting Governments to the promises to cut hunger that they made in 1996 at the first food summit.

During that meeting, delegates pledged to reduce the number of hungry people in the world from 800 million to 400 million by 2015. Today, the number of people without enough to eat, however, remains at 800 million.``So, there is no point in making further promises today,'' Mr. Annan said. ``This summit must give renewed hope to those 800 million people by agreeing on concrete action.''

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, said the action needed was to liberalise markets so farmers in the developing world can compete with those from industrialised countries whose crops are subsidised.

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