ActionAid Sierra Leone successfully launched the HungerFREE campaign in Freetown, Sierra Leone on Saturday 23rd June in collaboration with civil society organisations and youth networks.

Thousands of young people and people from all walks of life turned up in defiance of a heavy downpour of rain to grace the event.

The event commenced with a float parade along the streets of the capital Freetown, and culminated in a formal launching ceremony at the Miata Conference Hall

“We are going to bind hunger and put in the docks.” Tennyson Williams, Country Director, ActionAid Sierra Leone told an audience of civil society organisations, government ministers and women’s groups.

“For 854 million people to be hungry in the world is unacceptable. Chronic hunger kills more than disasters and war. We will not allow this to continue.”

“The World food Summit plan of action for 2015 has not been achieved. Instead of a reduction in hunger, we have experienced an increase,” said Francis Webber, Director for the National Alliance Against Hunger.

A representative from the one of the Women’s group spoke on the issues affecting them in terms of inadequate access to land.

Samuel Johnson, spoke on the plight of young people. 

“Young people make up about 52% of the total population that suffers chronic hunger, which leads many to unacceptable activities including crime and prostitution and exposes them to HIV and AIDS,” he said.

A moment’s silence was observed in memory of all those that have died from hunger.
 
Following the official Launch, two musical groups delivered live performances of songs they had composed specifically for the campaign.

HungerFREE is ActionAid’s new global rights-based campaign, which is calling for governments to deliver on their commitment to halve hunger by 2015.

It also demands action from inter-governmental organisations and corporations to end hunger related death by providing appropriate and sustainable access to food.

In Sierra Leone, about 70% of the population are poor and about 26% are food poor, meaning about 1.5 million persons out of the country’s 5 million people, cannot afford to feed themselves.