Peace vital if we are to eradicate hunger in our region

In September 2015, leaders of all nations of the world agreed on the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which vows to build a world with no one left behind. Of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), goal one and goal two have been dedicated, respectively, to eradicating poverty, and ending hunger and malnutrition. This is no coincidence: If we do not eradicate poverty and hunger, it will be impossible to achieve the remaining goals and the broader objective of leaving no one behind. 

In recent decades, there has been progress in the fight against hunger in some countries, not least in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. However, despite all the efforts that have been undertaken to address hunger, a substantial proportion of the world’s population continues to go to bed hungry.

Moreover, hunger is again on the rise, and this after more than 10 years of decline. More than 800 million people in the world are estimated to have suffered from hunger in 2016, of which 40 million were in the NENA region, which is more than its proportional share. In addition, almost all the countries in our region are confronted with different forms of malnutrition, where hunger, stunting, waste and obesity go hand-in-hand, reflecting a wider problem with our food systems from production to consumption.

Eradicating hunger in our lifetime is not a dream, as solutions emerge through innovative agricultural techniques and improving food consumption habits. Countries throughout the world are putting in place comprehensive interventions and policies to boost agriculture production and productivity, reduce food losses and waste, provide social protection to the rural and urban poor, and build resilience to shocks, crises and climate change. 

In a region that is considered the most arid in the world and which faces enormous challenges, hunger has been on the rise. These challenges include high population growth, growing urbanization, a limited and fragile natural resource base, poverty, climate change, inadequate agricultural policies, and poor governance and weak infrastructure. It is clear therefore that all mitigating measures are needed to achieve zero hunger.

Instead, we see conflicts and protracted crises becoming endemic and inflicting immense suffering on the populations of the region. This is not only causing it to lag in its development indicators, but is also exacerbating the condition of its population. 

The strongly interlinked chain of food insecurity, natural resources scarcity, unemployment, migration, and impoverishment of rural areas is affecting and is affected by the absence of peace and stability and the rise in conflicts and wars. The challenges facing our region are not just a problem for the traditional decision-makers responsible for agriculture, food production, transportation and distribution. Rather they extend to the highest policymakers, in whose hands rest decisions of peace.  

The NENA region, with its enormous human and land resources, has the capacity to emerge stronger from the current series of conflicts and crises, but this will require collective action to build a shared vision of peace and prosperity among the region’s member countries. It will also need the support of all its partners, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is committed to doing its part in this endeavor. May the voices of 40 million hungry children, women and men in the region be heard and heeded in 2018.

Nabil Gangi is the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Deputy Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.

Twitter: @NabilGangi