FAO: European Crisis Affects Struggle Against Hunger
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) acknowledged today that the economic crisis in Europe is having certain effects on the struggle against hunger.
In this regard, FAO Director General, José Graziano da Silva, mentioned Spain as an example, as it is strongly affected by the crisis and was forced to halt its contribution to food projects in Central America, area where Spain was the largest donor.
Therefore, during a meeting with journalists Graziano stated that many of the existing aid programs in Latin America may be assumed by some of the countries in the region with a better economic situation, such as Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.
He also stated, in relation to the Millennium Development Goals, that there has been some progress but not enough, although he noted hunger had been reduced by 43 percent in Latin America.
The figure is close to the 50 percent set as the target by the FAO, while it is hoped that the percentage of those in hunger will be halved by 2015.
The director also assured Europe remains committed to the eradication of hunger, despite the economic crisis that affects it.
More Than 1,000 Wounded as Meteorite Hits Russia
At least 1,000 people have been treated in health facilities for wounds in the wake of the fall of a meteorite in Cheliabinsk region, in the Russian Urals, according to Interior Ministry sources.
Police reported more than 200 children wounded and hundreds of agents are guarding the area near Chebarkul lake, in Cheliabinsk, where fragments of the meteorite allegedly fell, according to television news programs.
Local witnesses took photographs of the flashing meteor, which could be seen as exploding in the sky of Cheliabinsk today in the morning.
Civil defense continues combing the area, ordering experts to assess the radioactive situation again in the territory and nearby areas, which was preliminarily described as normal.
The Interior Ministry has started to design a series of measures to react in case of another meteorite shower over the Urals, said Lieut.Gen. Victor Rakitin.
The Academy of Sciences of Russia, however, considered unlikely the occurrence of similar events in the said region.
Rakitin admitted that the early warning system in case of emergency failed to work, precisely in Cheliabinsk.
In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin stressed the need of a joint international heavenly body surveillance and prevention system, taking into account that such shooting stars have proven to be very dangerous because of the damage they can cause.
The metor shower could be seen in five Russian regions: Cheliábinsk, Sverdlovsk, Tiumen, Kurgán and Bashkiria.
Thousands Injured, 75 Houses Lost in Valparaiso, Chile Fire
The Chilean Government reported today that the number of houses destroyed by the fire in Valparaiso stands at 75, while 1,042 have been injured.
According to the latest report from the National Emergency Office of the Ministry of Interior, there are 1,200 evacuees and 118 citizens temporarily living in shelters.
The acting Minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Ubilla, said: “The fire is still under observation and they must wait a few hours to determine if it is fully under control.”
The fire started on Thursday in a forest area, apparently set by unknown people, and spread to the districts of Rodelillo Alto, about 130 km from Santiago de Chile.
Homes, businesses and cars were consumed by the flames, which were suppressed by firefighters and members of the National Forest overnight.
The National Emergency Office decreed a red alert phase in the area of the incident, which forced the authorities to close Route 68, a highway that links Santiago de Chile with the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.