ROME: The United Nations marked World Food Day on Wednesday saying it was possible to eradicate hunger and stressing the importance of cutting food waste and ensuring balanced diets.
“We can win the fight against hunger,” Jose Graziano da Silva, the director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said at a ceremony at FAO headquarters in Rome.
He said 62 out of the 128 countries monitored by the FAO had reached the Millenium Development Goal of cutting by half the number of hungry people from 1990 levels, showing the target was achievable by 2015.
The number of the world’s hungry has gone down in recent years — mainly thanks to economic growth in developing countries and higher farm productivity — but still stands at 842 million people.
Graziano da Silva said the fallout from hunger cost about five percent of global income due to lost productivity and health care costs.
In a message for World Food Day, Pope Francis called for solidarity and an end to indifference to the plight of the hungry.
“It is a scandal that there is still hunger and malnutrition in the world,” the pope said. “Something has to change in ourselves, in our mindsets and in our societies,” he said.
Ertharin Cousin, head of the World Food Program, the UN food aid agency, said in an interview that now was no time for “donor fatigue,” and said some humanitarian crises around the world such as North Korea and Yemen risked being forgotten.
“The biggest challenge is ensuring we don’t forget conflicts that are beyond the attention of the media,” said Cousin, adding: “Food crises don’t just affect the countries where people go hungry.” She also said the WFP was now using vouchers for the needy to purchase food on local markets, following accusations that the agency has harmed small farmers by undercutting them with its aid supplies.
One of the main themes being discussed on World Food Day is the cost of the 1.3 billion tones of food that go to waste every year — around a third of the total food produced.
“With just a quarter of that, we could feed the 842 million hungry,” said Robert van Otterdijk, an agriculture industry expert at the FAO.
Mathilde Iweins, coordinator of a report on the cost of food waste, said that “the agricultural areas used to produce the food that will never be eaten are as big as Canada and India combined.”
But the FAO said focusing on the type of food being consumed was just as important, warning that bad diets place high costs on society.
“One out of every four children in the world under the age of five is stunted,” the FAO said.
“This means 165 million children who are so malnourished they will never reach their full physical and cognitive potential,” it said.
About two billion people in the world lack vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health, while 1.4 billion people are overweight.
Children with stunted growth may be at greater risk of developing obesity and related diseases in adulthood, in a worrying cycle of malnutrition.
Of those overweight, “about one-third are obese and at risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes or other health problems,” the FAO said.
The agency said that while wiping out malnutrition worldwide “is a daunting challenge, the return on investment would be high.”
There are hopes that under-used, nutrient-rich staple crop species might come into fashion, as well as eating insects such as beetles.
With the fight against malnutrition excelling in some countries and lagging behind in others, the FAO gave examples of ways to improve food systems.
In rural Vietnam for example, fish ponds, chickens used as a source of fertilizer and garden-grown crops have reduced malnutrition and raised incomes.
The FAO insisted however that these initiatives must be backed up by global efforts to stem waste.
“Getting the most food from every drop of water, plot of land, speck of fertilizer and minute of labor saves resources for the future and makes systems more sustainable,” the organization said.
Ending hunger is possible, UN says on World Food Day
Ending hunger is possible, UN says on World Food Day
UK’s UN envoy calls for immediate ceasefire, humanitarian action in Gaza
- UK urged immediate action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, violence in Lebanon
LONDON: The UK urged immediate action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza during a meeting at the UN on Wednesday.
Barbara Woodward, Britain’s permanent representative to the UN, said at a Security Council session that the UK supported the call for the emergency meeting, with a focus on urgent steps needed to alleviate the suffering of civilians in the region.
“The situation in northern Gaza is harrowing,” she said.
“Approximately 400,000 Gazans have been ordered to evacuate the north and move southward to the IDF-designated humanitarian zone. Many of these people will already have been displaced, some many times over, and are desperately searching for refuge.
“But there are no safe places in Gaza. Just this week we saw horrifying images following the Israeli strike on Al-Aqsa Hospital, inside the IDF-designated humanitarian zone,” she added.
Woodward highlighted the severe challenges faced by those attempting to flee, including intimidation, traveling in active conflict zones and the threat of airstrikes. Those who remain face dire conditions, with extreme hunger and little access to healthcare or basic services.
The representative pointed to the lack of food aid delivered to northern Gaza in the first half of October, criticizing the Israeli authorities for blocking or delaying the majority of humanitarian efforts. With aid levels expected to be the lowest since the conflict began, the UK envoy described the situation as “unconscionable,” especially with a second winter approaching for Gaza’s population, which has been left with diminished resilience and resources.
She called on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure that aid reaches all areas of Gaza, expressing concern about legislative efforts to undermine UNRWA, a key player in the humanitarian response.
In a broader appeal, she demanded that civilians in northern Gaza be allowed to return to their communities and rebuild, warning against any forcible transfers or reductions in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
Woodward also highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the conflict and called on Hamas to release the 101 hostages still in captivity.
Beyond Gaza, she reiterated the UK’s call for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, urging all parties to avoid civilian casualties and ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel. In the West Bank, the UK envoy urged the Israeli government to crack down on settler violence and halt the expansion of illegal settlements on Palestinian land.
To support accountability, the UK recently imposed further sanctions on three illegal settler outposts and four organizations linked to human rights abuses against Palestinians.
“The Palestinian people, the Israeli people and the region as a whole deserve a better reality than the daily cycle of violence and fear to which they have become accustomed. But there is a path to peace, one which would see a safe and secure Palestinian state, beside a safe and secure Israel,” Woodward said.
“We urge the parties to be courageous and to take the path toward peace and a better future for their people.”
Japanese former official awarded UAE Military Medal
- Shihab Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, presented the Medal to Dr. Goto
- Goto expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
TOKYO: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, awarded the UAE Military Medal of the First Class to Dr. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Masahito Goto, former Director General of Air Systems at the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), for his dedicated efforts in enhancing military cooperation and consolidating relations between the UAE and Japan.
According to the UAE Embassy in Tokyo, Shihab Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, presented the Medal to Dr. Goto during his reception at the UAE Embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday in the presence of Major General Staff Pilot Ibrahim Al Alawi, Air Force and Air Defense Commander.
The Ambassador, in his address, wished Dr. Goto success in his future endeavors and lauded his pivotal role in fostering friendly relations between the UAE and Japan.
Goto expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, praising the level of progress witnessed in bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also extended his sincere thanks to all parties in the UAE, especially the Armed Forces, for their warm and generous gesture in honoring him with this Medal.
Israeli booths, equipment barred from defense show in France
- The decision comes as tensions are rising between Israel and France
- “The French government informed Euronaval of its decision to approve the participation of Israeli delegations at Euronaval 2024, without any stand,” said the organizers
PARIS: Israeli delegations taking part in the major Euronaval defense show in France next month will not be permitted to set up any stand or exhibit hardware following a decision by the French government, organizers said on Wednesday.
The decision comes as tensions are rising between Israel and France following comments by President Emmanuel Macron criticizing the civilian casualties in the Israeli campaigns against Shiite militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The French leader last week insisted that stopping the export of weapons used by Israel in both operations was the only way to halt the two conflicts.
“The French government informed Euronaval of its decision to approve the participation of Israeli delegations at Euronaval 2024, without any stand or exhibition of equipment,” said the organizers of the show which is due to start on November 4 in Paris.
Euronaval, a biennial event that attracts naval defense exhibitors from around the world, said seven Israeli companies are affected by the decision.
“In accordance with the French government’s decision, Israeli companies and citizens who wish to attend will be welcomed at the show under the conditions listed above,” it added.
At the end of May, the presence of Israeli defense manufacturers at the Eurosatory land defense and security exhibition was banned by the government, before finally being authorized by the French courts.
Philippines prepares for debut at Saudi Arabia’s largest halal expo
- Delegation representing not only food industry, but also wellness, travel, construction
- Philippines’ central bank to promote Islamic banking opportunities in the country
MANILA: Philippine finance, tourism and food industry representatives are preparing for the country’s debut at the Middle East’s largest halal exhibition, which will take place in Saudi Arabia later this month.
The annual Saudi International Halal Expo will be held in Riyadh on Oct. 28-30, providing a platform to stakeholders from all over the world to see and showcase the latest innovations, research and development in the global halal market.
Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine delegation and exhibitors will range from fruit, food and beverage, and supplement sectors to tourism, travel and finance. They will showcase their products and projects under “Halal-friendly Philippines” — a government umbrella brand promoting the country as a halal market hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
“This is the first time that we are participating,” Aleem Guiapal, DTI Halal Industry Development program manager, told Arab News. “It is about building relationships and to strengthen our presence in ASEAN and GCC countries.”
The predominantly Catholic Philippines — where Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the almost 120 million population — has been making efforts to tap into the global halal market, which is estimated to be worth more than $7 trillion.
By increasing its presence and doubling the number of its halal-certified products and services, the Philippine government plans to raise $4 billion in investments and generate about 120,000 jobs by 2028.
Guiapal said that the Filipino halal market’s strength is in agricultural products such as coconut oil, fruits, nutraceutical foods, baked goods, supplements and wellness items, but there will also be construction companies joining the country’s delegation at the Riyadh fair.
“Because if we want halal-friendly tourism or hotels, the contractors also ought to know how suitable their hotels would be,” he said.
Part of the Philippines’ strategy to revive its tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on expanding its halal tourism portfolio and developing halal-friendly properties.
The Southeast Asian country is also developing Islamic financial services and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank, will also be part of its delegation.
The aim is to pitch in “opportunities for Islamic banks to open their Islamic banking operation in the Philippines,” BSP officer Winnie Claire Jamoner-Carbonel told Arab News.
“We want them to know that a lot has happened in the Philippines in Islamic banking and we want them to know that there is a market that no one serves ... so they could take a chunk of that market.”
Ukraine requests monitoring mission at Odesa ports amid Russian strikes
- Russian strikes on port infrastructure, grain storage facilities and civilian vessels threatened global food security
- Insurance sources had already reported a jump in insurance costs and some canceled bookings after recent Russian attacks
KYIV: Ukraine has asked the International Maritime Organization to send a monitoring mission to ports in the southern Odesa region amid intensified Russian attacks, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have ramped up missile strikes on Ukraine’s southern port infrastructure and damaged a total of four foreign-flagged civilian vessels since Oct. 6.
“Amid increased Russian terror, Ukraine has officially appealed to the International Maritime Organization to immediately send an international monitoring mission to the ports,” Sybiha told a briefing in Odesa after meeting his counterparts from the Nordic-Baltic Eight group.
He stressed that Russian strikes on port infrastructure, grain storage facilities and civilian vessels threatened global food security.
Ukraine is a major global grain grower and before Russia’s invasion in 2022 the country exported about 6 million tons of grain alone per month via the Black Sea. About 85 percent of Ukrainian food exports now leaves Ukraine from its Black Sea ports.
Insurance sources had already reported a jump in insurance costs and some canceled bookings after recent Russian attacks.
Ukraine says that Russia had carried out almost 60 attacks on ports over the past three months, resulting in the damage and destruction of nearly 300 port infrastructure facilities and 22 civilian vessels.
