The importance of peace for food security was highlighted during the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East on 3 May 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Representatives from 25 countries in the Near East and North Africa reaffirmed their commitment to fight hunger through a declaration that highlighted “the need for stability and peace for any development effort to bear fruits in the short, medium, and long term.”
According to these representatives, they were deeply concerned over the dramatic deterioration of the food security and nutrition situation, particularly among children in the Near East and North Africa Region as a result of the conflicts and crises in the said areas.
This conference provided a venue for countries and civil society to discuss pressing issues related to food and agriculture in the region.
“Assisting farmers, when it is safe for them to remain on their land, is critical to preventing mass displacement. it also sets the foundations for rebuilding,” says FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.
Meanwhile, the countries have reiterated the provision of employment to vulnerable groups such as women and youth by the agricultural sector since this is important if the aim is to have an inclusive and sustainable development.
To know more about the conference, read here.
Photo Credit: FAO Website