Gov't, UN Stir to Stand Up Against Poverty

from All Africa

Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)

NEWS

By Endale Assefa
Addis Abeba

A national Stand Up Day call against poverty aimed at awareness creation to ensure the nation's path towards achieving one of the MDGs through food security was marked yesterday.

In a joint ceremony organized as part of the Millennium Celebration by the National Millennium Festival Council Secretariat and the United Nations at the Exhibition center, Addisu Legesse, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and President of the National Millennium Festival Council Secretariat addressed the people to stand up to eliminate poverty from Ethiopia.

He pointed out the purpose gathering as to press hard the rights of people for sustainable food security by joining hands with the UN community and development partners of the country.

"Ensuring food security and adequate access to diet is one of the objectives of the UN-set MDGs (very important goal to Ethiopia) to achieve by 2015 with respect to poverty reduction," Addisu said noting that the campaign-Let's Stand and Pledge for Poverty Eradication is meant for stirring awareness with a combined efforts.

The success of this goal resides upon the government, NGOs, Schools and Universities, health institutions, farmers and the people at large who should play their own role in their respective areas of engagement, he added.

To this effect, multi-faceted support should be given to the farmer accessing provision of credit service, improved technology, access to market and other infrastructural facilities, Adissu stressed.

The UN week, as celebration of the New Millennium, was launched yesterday and lasts till 28, October; entertaining 13 exhibition themes, including Education, Safe water and Sanitation, HIV&AIDS in recognition of Ethiopia's 13 months.

According to Statistical reports, 3.6 children die every second worldwide due to food shortage and the majorities are children below the age of five.