WESTPORT, Conn. (July 10, 2009) — Save the Children commends G8 leaders for adopting a bold new food security initiative, spearheaded by President Barack Obama, and for moving to back their promises to the world's poor with a commitment to greater accountability. Follow this story and others on Twitter.

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Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children USA

"If G8 leaders follow through on the global food security initiative and fortify their commitment to maternal and child health with significantly increased investment, they could save millions of children's lives a year," said Save the Children President and CEO Charles MacCormack. "We hope the new push for accountability among the world's wealthiest nations will turn good intentions into real results without delay. After all, the world's poorest children had nothing to do with the global financial crisis, but they are the ones who increasingly pay the price with their futures, and even their lives."

Financial Crisis Exacerbating Already Dire Situation for Children

The World Bank has estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 more children will die each year as a result of the financial crisis. Already 9.2 million children under 5 die annually from mostly preventable and treatable causes, including pneumonia and diarrhea.  

The new $20 billion Global Food Security Initiative, embraced by the G8 and other leaders, could help save many of these lives. Malnutrition is an underlying cause in more than 3 million child deaths a year. 

To effectively address hunger, Save the Children calls on the G8 and other leaders meeting in L’Aquila, Italy to adopt a comprehensive food security strategy in putting these new funds to work. The strategy must include coordinated efforts to improve nutrition, provide safety nets and enhance emergency response, in addition to increasing food production.  

"World leaders must recognize that growing more food is only part of the solution to hunger," MacCormack said. "Poor and vulnerable people must have access to a healthy diet."

Save the Children also welcomed G8 leaders' statements reaffirming their commitment to reducing child and maternal death, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. With this announcement of a global consensus on maternal, newborn and child health, G8 leaders have offered a way to breathe new life into the fight against poverty and child deaths.

"The G8 leaders showed they understand the devastating toll preventable and treatable diseases take on small children," MacCormack said. "What is lacking are specific commitments and timelines to fund the health strategies these leaders know will save these young lives. We are not talking about the expense of putting a man on the moon, but rather pennies on the development aid dollar to fund interventions to save children. By the time G8 leaders gather again in Canada, we need to see them translate this global consensus into urgent action and increased investment, if the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved. We look forward to working with President Obama and his administration to ensure the United States fulfills its responsibilities to close this critical gap."

Save the Children Welcomes Major Step

Save the Children applauds the G8 leaders for taking a major step this year toward instituting an accountability framework to track their development pledges and results.  This is an essential mechanism to ensure that promises are not only made, they are kept.

Donors have their clear responsibilities, but Save the Children also welcomes the G8 leaders' emphasis on the central role of recipient country governments in designing and leading sustainable solutions to the development challenges facing their poor and vulnerable citizens. The Millennium Development Goals will be reached only through unyielding leadership on the part of these governments, working in concert with donors, civil society, foundations and other private sector actors. 

See how you can help end child hunger and save the lives of children and mothers:

• Tell Congress to end child hunger
• Tell Congress to save lives by supporting the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act of 2009 (H.R. 1410)

Save the Children is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.