DHAKA, Bangladesh - 3 April, 2017. Global action on the drought and famine situation received a major boost yesterday when a proposal for Emergency Motion on Urgent international action to save millions of people from famine and drought in parts of Africa and Yemen was adopted for debate at the Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) currently taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh that brings together about 700 legislators from 132 countries.

The motion sponsored by Kenya, Belgium and United Kingdom was backed by The Africa Group and the 12 Plus Group that bring together about 40 countries – majority from Europe.

The motion garnered 932 votes in favour, 136 against and 50 abstentions; effectively flooring two other proposed motions that were sponsored by Palestine and Mexico. According to IPU rules, only one Emergency Motion can be adopted and debated per Assembly.
While pitching for the adoption of the motion yesterday, the Speaker decried the slow response by the global community in addressing the humanitarian situation in Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda. Some 12.8 million people in these countries are facing a real threat of starvation due to drought and famine.