The United Nations food agencies, the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the World Food Programme, have inaugurated a food security platform to improve the coordination of food security responses during crises.
The Food Security Cluster, led by the two organisations, is based in Rome. Its work is spearheaded by a small global unit led by Graham Farmer, the newly appointed Global Cluster Coordinator.
The global support team includes FAO, WFP, non-governmental organisations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian organisations.
The FAO Deputy Director-General (Operations), Changchui He, said that the support of the NGOs and Red Cross/Red Crescent had been vital in setting up the Global Food Security Cluster.
He said, “We share the common belief that working together at the international and country levels to better coordinate food security responses in crisis situations — from food assistance to support to food production and rebuilding agriculture-based livelihoods — can effectively improve the lives of people around the world affected by disasters and emergencies.”
The WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Amir Abdulla, noted that reaching hungry people with life-saving food in emergencies involved many partners working together, adding that the new Global Food Security Cluster would be a powerful tool to support the coordination at all levels and maximise the food assistance efforts.
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UN moves to tackle food crises