The Committee on Food Security (CFS) Advisory Group has met in Rome, to evaluate the outcomes of the 45th session of the Committee and draw up future plans for 2019.

APN General Manager Mariam al-Jaajaa attended the meeting on November 23rd, 2018 on behalf of the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM).

In remarks at the start of the meeting she urged CFS to respond to the current and the world’s worst food crisis in Yemen where nearly 14 million people, or half the population, are at risk of famine. Referring to Save the Children Fund’s reports, she noted that 85 thousand children under the age of five have died as a result of acute malnutrition during three years of war in the country at a current rate of 130 children a day.

Al-Jaajaa proposed several effective ways to deal with the crisis including agreeing on a statement to be conveyed to the concerned parties, the UN General Assembly and the Security Council in order to stop the tragedy. This also would include organizing a concentrated session on the issue during the next meeting of the Advisory Group.

 The Chair of CFS Mario Arvilo agreed to prepare an urgent statement in the name of the Committee to raise awareness of the crisis in Yemen and push for an end to the human suffering in the country.The meeting was attended by other CSM representatives including Mrs. Azra Saeed of Pakistan, President of the International Women’s Alliance and Saul Vicente Vasques, President of the International Indian Treaty Council which serves as an advocate for the human rights of indigenous peoples.

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is the foremost inclusive intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all.

Ms. Al-jaajaa was chosen to represent West Asian civil society in the Committee. It is worth noting that APN was the first to bring forward the issue of the impact of conflicts and occupations on food security in the Committee agenda.