The
newly-appointed World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, Angela Cespedes,
has declared her institution’s firm commitment to maintaining close
collaboration with the Gambia government in achieving zero hunger in the
country.
She
gave this assurance while delivering a speech during the celebration of World Food
Day on 16 October 2016, at Janjangbureh, in the Central River Region.
In
The Gambia, she said, the WFP is working in close partnership with several
governmental institutions, UN agencies and other development partners to
improve food security, nutrition and education and to build resilience and
minimise the risks of climate change.
She
urged all development partners, civil society organisations and private
institutions to take a holistic approach to climate change, food security and
equitable social and economic development.
“The
well-being of this generation and those to come depends on the collective
actions we take now,” she said, adding that only by working in partnership
would they achieve zero hunger and freedom from poverty, in a world where all
people, especially women and children, would have equal opportunities to lead
prosperous and dignified lives.
The
World Food Day recognises the crucial role of climate change to food, nutrition
and agriculture, she added.
The
celebration was to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer
from hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, because climate change is one of
the main challenges needed to be addressed to ensure a food secure present and
future world for communities.
The
WFP country representative further said climate change acts as a multiplier of
existing threats to food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition.
It
makes natural disasters more frequent and intense, land and water more scare
and difficult to access, and affecting badly agricultural productivity.
According
to her, already they are aware of the social, economic and environmental
challenges the world is facing as a result of climate change.
Together,
she said, they need to act now to help people cope and build their resilience,
as well as to help connect small farmers to the markets so that the risk of
food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition is minimised.
To
mark the day, WFP highlights the need for bold and constructive partnership
with the government, the private sector and organisations that would create the
essential momentum towards achieving zero hunger, and shaping a brighter future
for millions of children, women and their families.
Also
delivering a speech on the occasion, the director-general of the Department of
Agriculture, Falalo Touray, who doubles as the chairman of the National
Organizing Committee of the World Food Day celebration, thanked all
stakeholders and partners for their contribution in one way or the other to
making the day a success.
He
said one of the biggest issues related to climate change is food security, for
“the most poor and the poorest of the poor many of whom are farmers.”
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