EU en VN-voedselorganisatie werken samen met bekende voetballers in strijd tegen hongersnood
24/05/2012 - This week, Spanish football star Raúl González visited Chad in support of joint efforts of FAO and the European Commission to mobilise more help for the people suffering from the humanitarian food crisis in the country. Under the headline "Together we can save lives" he expressed his personal solidarity with those in need by visiting humanitarian projects and speaking to people affected by the harsh living conditions caused by the crisis, in particular children, with whom he also played football - keeping hope and dreams alive.
About the campaign
The European Commission has joined forces with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the European Professional Football League (EPFL) for the 2012 edition of the "European Football against Hunger" campaign to raise awareness about the severe food crisis in the Sahel region of Africa, where large parts of the population in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad are exposed to food insecurity and malnutrition.
One of the high points of the 2012 campaign was the Match Day against Hunger. This third edition of the event brought together 20 European Football Leagues in 15 countries in matches played by over 300 professional football clubs all over Europe on 31st of March and 1st of April.
Besides the match days, some of the brightest stars of European football serve as goodwill ambassadors of the campaign throughout the year, including Raúl González, Patrick Vieira, Roberto Baggio, Herbert Prohaska, Hristo Stoichkov, Francesco Toldo, Vidar Riseth, Felix Magath, Steffen Freund, Alexey Medvedev.
Sign the petition on www.endinghunger.org
Related information
Joint message Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva and Raúl González
Funds for the Sahel are needed now, Raúl says (FAO Media Centre)
Video: Footballers against hunger
Chad: Football legend Raúl visits EU funded humanitarian aid projects (05.2012)