Accessing food in war zones, continuing to "deteriorate"-FAO

The ability to find food in the world's war zones continues to "deteriorate", meaning that humanitarian efforts are "extremely critical".

That's one key conclusion of a report on food security, published on Monday, by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), compiled for the Security Council.

The joint assessment covers 16 countries; half of which are experiencing "crisis or emergency levels" of hunger among at least 25 per cent of their population.

The update for the Council says that food security affected by fighting, is a vicious circle, where deteriorating access can "exacerbate tensions and risks of conflict".

The "combination of poverty and hunger, lack of opportunities, unequal access to jobs, land or wealth, is a volatile mix that can create feelings of anger and hopelessness", said Dan Gustafson, Deputy Director-General of FAO, and Amir Abdullah, WFP's deputy chief.

UN Radio/GBCONLINE
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