MENA Newswire News Desk: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that global food insecurity remains at critically high levels, with nearly 282 million people facing acute food insecurity in 2023. This marks an increase of 24 million compared to the previous year, driven by conflict, climate change, and economic shocks. The FAO’s outlook for 2024 is equally concerning, with famine conditions imminent in Gaza and already confirmed in Sudan. Other regions, including Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan, are also at risk of severe food shortages, the organization reported.
As the demand for humanitarian assistance grows, FAO has called for a shift in strategy to address the underlying causes of hunger. It emphasizes the importance of providing emergency agricultural support to rural communities, where over two-thirds of the world’s food-insecure population resides. Despite this, only four percent of global food security aid is allocated to emergency agricultural support. In a bid to raise awareness of this critical issue, FAO produced a 5-minute video titled “Spotlight on Agriculture is Humanitarian Aid,” which aired on PBS-affiliated channels during Spring and Summer 2024.
The video, produced by Trivue Entertainment, was broadcast 730 times across 124 stations, reaching 37 percent of U.S. households and attracting 3.5 million viewers. It highlighted FAO’s agricultural interventions in countries like Afghanistan, Ukraine, Somalia, and Central America’s Dry Corridor. Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, stated, “We can talk about the scale of hunger, or we can provide farmers and herders with the means to solve it. At FAO, we do so in a way that helps families continue to provide for themselves and communities day after day, year after year. Agriculture is the game-changer in the fight against hunger.”
The long-standing partnership between the U.S. government and FAO has been crucial in addressing acute food insecurity and meeting unprecedented humanitarian needs. As one of FAO’s top donors, the U.S. plays a vital role in supporting agricultural interventions, which are considered cost-effective solutions. For every $50 donated, rural families can produce $300 worth of food. In 2023, FAO directly supported 57 million people in 95 countries with emergency and resilience aid.
This included providing high-quality seeds, farming tools, fertilizers, and training, along with support for livestock keepers and fishing communities. FAO also contributed to environmental restoration efforts in some of the hardest-hit regions. Currently, FAO is urgently seeking $30 million to assist 300,000 Afghan families in securing a critical winter wheat harvest by the end of August. The funding will provide essential wheat seeds and fertilizers, benefiting 1 million people and reducing food insecurity for 7 million. By raising awareness and increasing funding for agricultural interventions, FAO aims to work toward a future where food security is achievable for all.