Dili, 15 October 2010 - On the occasion of World Food Day, Spain and the UN renewed their commitment to work together against hunger and malnutrition in Timor-Leste. In 2010, Spain became a major donor to UN agencies, funds and programmes in Timor-Leste. In the area of food security and nutrition, Spain's contribution exceeds US$6.65 million.

"Despite the progress observed in recent years, food insecurity and malnutrition are still prevalent in Timor-Leste" said Finn Reske-Nielsen, Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Timor-Leste (ASRSG).

"The situation is becoming particularly alarming this year due to the ongoing impact of La Niña, which caused poor harvests in 2010 and is now threatening the upcoming planting season. The sustained support of Spain to Food Security and Nutrition programmes implemented by the UN is playing a vital role in ensuring the provision of essential food security and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable. This continued collaboration also plays a key strategic role in the efforts to reach Millennium Development Goal number 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger – which calls for halving the number of hungry people in the country by 2015," said the ASRSG.

"Spain is today renewing the commitment to combat hunger and malnutrition in the country" said Francisco de Asis López Sanz, Representative of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in Timor-Leste.

The projects funded by Spain in 2010 include: the UN Joint Program Promoting Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in Timor-Leste, implemented by UNICEF, WFP, FAO and WHO; the third phase of the FAO Food Security and Livelihoods Programme in the District of Baucau; and the Conditional Cash Transfers program and School Feeding program implemented by WFP in partnership with FAO and ILO.

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