The State of Qatar has affirmed giving priority to contributing to addressing the challenges that affect international peace and security, and the factors that exacerbate humanitarian crises, including addressing the issue of food security.
In this regard, the State of Qatar pointed to directing a large part of its international humanitarian assistance towards addressing hunger and food shortages through cooperation with the United Nations system, expressing its belief in the centrality of the role of the international organization in addressing crises, including food insecurity.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, at the ministerial UN Security Council meeting on Maintenance of international peace and security - conflict and food security, which was called for by the United States, which it presided over the council's work for this month.
The statement said that the factors affecting food security are many and varied, from armed conflict to economic hardship, the energy crisis and disruption of the supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the effects of climate change.
The statement explained that the effects of the conflict are not limited to the areas experiencing conflicts, but reach far beyond them, especially in light of the globalization of trade exchange.
Her Excellency referred to the countries affected by food security coupled with other factors exacerbating it, such as the energy crisis and difficult financial conditions, adding that the number of these countries has now reached about 69 countries. Many of these countries are located in the Arab region, where most of the population suffer from food insecurity in some cases.
Her Excellency stated that the State of Qatar has directed a large part of its international humanitarian assistance towards addressing hunger and food shortages, in compliance with its humanitarian responsibility to respond to famine and food insecurity, indicating that it often does this through cooperation with the United Nations system.
The statement expressed Qatar's belief in the centrality of the role of the international organization in addressing crises, including food insecurity, and its belief in the impact of these efforts on mitigating the threat of instability, security and peace.
The statement said that in November 2021, Qatar Fund for Development signed an agreement with the World Food Program to provide a financial contribution of USD 90 million to secure food assistance to more than 7 million people who are in dire need of food in brotherly Yemen.
Her Excellency commended the contributions of the State of Qatar in Afghanistan, where, since last August, it has contributed to providing urgent humanitarian aid, including foodstuffs via an air bridge from Qatar to Kabul, which transported hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid, and said that it is currently working on the rehabilitation of Kabul Airport, which will help facilitate receiving food commodities.
Her Excellency explained that the Government of the State of Qatar has realized the importance of ensuring food security and has given it the priority it deserves, whether at the national or international level.
In this context, the statement spoke of the deliberate and relentless measures undertaken by the government, including significant investment in food research, agricultural policies, irrigation infrastructure, market upgrades, roads, ports and strategic storage reserves, pointing out that Qatar achieved the highest position at the level of Arab countries in the global food security index last year.
The statement added that the State of Qatar has worked to transfer this experience to other countries, as last February, Doha hosted the IOFS Forum on Strategic Commodities and Food Safety in cooperation with the Islamic Organization for Food Security.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani recalled the initiative launched by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to establish the Global Dryland Alliance, as a mechanism aimed at filling gaps in research, strategies and policies to enable dryland countries to achieve food security, exchange knowledge and best practices, and help develop countries' capabilities to prevent food crises and exchange aid, within the framework of the State of Qatar's commitment to cooperation and collective action to confront common challenges at the international level.
Her Excellency pointed out that the alliance agreement was concluded in Doha in 2017, and the United Nations General Assembly granted the alliance observer status.
The statement of the State of Qatar drew attention to the announcement of Qatar Fund for Development and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a strategic partnership called Nanmo, or "growth together" in Arabic, which will invest in agricultural technologies and tools capable of adapting to climate changes to create markets and flexible food systems that help provide nutrition, income and economic opportunities for young people, producer farmers and their communities in African countries, given the important role of non-state actors in developing resilience and addressing global food insecurity.
The statement referred to pledging up USD 200 million for targeted projects. It also pointed out that Qatar Fund for Development signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization to help Somalia improve its resilience in the face of climate change and take proactive and deliberate measures to confront crises.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs