Kjell Magne Bondevik is the newly appointed United Nations’ Special Humanitarian Envoy for the Horn of Africa, a region that is severly stricken by recurrent drought and food insecurity.
09/02/2006 :: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced his decision to name Bondevik to this important post on 3 February.
- I have asked former Prime Minister Bondevik to become my envoy for the Horn and East African region, where we are facing very serious violence today, and the UN and its agencies will have the responsibility of feeding millions of people who will need the help of the international community, who will need to work with governments to raise the money and resources to be able to assist them, said Annan
Former Prime Minister Bondevik succeeds Martti Ahtisaari, the former president of Finland, and is determined to continue the UN’s important humanitarian efforts in the region.
- I know that this is a very difficult mission; at least 11 million people are threatened with starvation, so we need really to coordinate the efforts- UN agencies, the non-governmental organizations, the donors’ efforts- and I will do my best, said Bondevik.
Bondevik will work with a wide variety of partners to improve the situation for the region where more than 40 percent of the population is currently undernourished. He will work to stabilize the chronic food insecuriy as well as build stronger networks that can ensure long-term food supplies for the region.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs