Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: Angi Duncan
School: Mattawan High School

Albania has been a member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 1992, and has assisted the government by establishing an asylum system, and management structure. During the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, around 465,000 refugees from Kosovo fled to seek protection in Albania. UNHCR helped at accommodating, providing protection and assistance to those refugees. Albania remains a transit country for refugees and economic migrants.

Because Albania is a transit country, many refugees seek shelter and provisions for a short period of time, and Albania, as a “stopping point” in their journey, should provide sustenance for those in need. If the provisions do not reach Albania, or other homes to refugees, those travelling will not receive the basic right of food. Albania fully supports the UN’s goal to eliminate world hunger. The UN is correct in declaring this a situation that needs attention. Refugees have the basic right to nutrition, and stricter regulations need to be made to insure that these refugees receive the food that they need. When refugees from Kosovo fled to Albania, there was enough locally grown produce to support Albanians and refugees; however, this is not the case in many countries hosting refugees. Albania believes that actions must be taken to ensure that food reaches refugees. There needs to be a strict process in order to achieve this, including stronger communication when food has reached its destination. Albania agrees with the “Resolution 1/2008 Immediate plan of action for FAO Renewal (IPA)”, which states, “that implementation of the Immediate Plan of Action in 2009 requires funding by extra-budgetary contributions, and that its funding for 2010-2011 will be treated under the Programme of Work and Budget. In this connection, URGES all Member Countries to contribute extra-budgetary resources of a provisional amount of US$ 21.8 million for 2009 to a special Trust Fund established for this purpose. For transparency, the Trust Fund accounts will be publicly available and oversight will be provided by the Council supported by the Finance Committee.” Including countries that either do not host refugees, or have sufficient provisions, members of the UN should contribute to the growing numbers of refugees, and their increasing needs for food. Albania also supports the The Food and Agriculture Organization goal which states, “FAO’s vision is of a world free of hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contributes to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.”

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Joe Mangum
School: Royal Oak High School

Argentina as a country with 30% of the population under the “poverty line” knows there is a need globally to provide food for those suffering. In order for the FAO to function at its highest ability we need to set guidelines on how to decide, as the UN, what situations need help the most and how much aid should be provided to those areas in need. MAny cases that come to mind and are also mentioned in the background paper are the refugees from Syria and those areas in Africa being most heavily hit with the Ebola virus. I do believe those do hold precedence over other cases that may not need as much urgent care as these. i think part of the criteria we set as a body needs to be, although horrible, those areas with the highest death rates because obviously they need help first to decrease and eventually stop those death that come from starvation and malnutrition. In terms of getting the supplies, delivering it and making sure it is given to the right people we need to rely on countries that are heavy agricultural exporters, such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany, seeing as they are some of the highest agricultural exporters in the global economy. Then delivering must be put on to either the UN itself or the countries surrounding the conflicts that are willing and able to do so. I would hope those surrounding the conflicts would be willing but if they aren't the UN could be another possible delivering system. Then UN Peacekeepers could be deployed to oversee the correct distribution of the aid given.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Danielle Falling
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

The distressing state of refugee’s situation does not end at the extreme violence that displaced them from their homes and countries, but with the turbulent situations that prevent them from attaining proper food, water, and other basic needs for survival. The necessity of secure ability to attain food is a basic human right. The difficulty in distributing food resources to refugees is that they are in conflict ridden areas that prevented not only their safety of living but their ability to exchange goods and move resources securely. The difficulties of this issue stems from the inability to acquire adequate resources to give to refugees in need of food and the difficulties of transporting the goods potentially acquired to high risk zones. Violence and extreme weather conditions contribute to the dilemma. There is also the issue of designating the proper places these resources should go to because, unfortunately, there are many countries and conflict zones in dire need of aid.

Austria has played a role in assisting other nations with "the food and nutritional needs of the most vulnerable populations" as stated by the Food Assistance convention that they are a part of. Austria, having been part of conflict and having its citizens displaced or without proper food, feel that it is a necessity to offer asylum and reach out to the people needing food and other resources. Austria not only gives funds through the global initiatives against poverty CARE, the food assistance convention, Official development assistance (ODA),and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) but is supportive in other aspects of refugees lives. Austria is supportive of assisting nations with need for food. They have the ability to give funds and potentially assist with transport or support of agencies.

The solution to the problem of starving people displaced from their homes, will best be solved by ‘affluent’ nations assisting the nations and peoples in need. The providing of actual food and monetary resources distributed by the United Nations would be the most effective actions to counteract the issue of hungry refugees. There are many subcommittees of the UN and independent of the UN that could offer assistance of the physical form. Also, the actual use of agriculture in the nations with refugee populations could promote not on self sufficiency but also the possible end of dire need for food and funds. Additionally, moves to assist the transportation of these acquired resources should be focused on air drops, safe vehicles of transportation, and reduction of the possibility for corruption and theft of the food supplied. The need for food for refugees is a pressing matter that should try to be dealt with comprehensibly.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Caroline Zuhl
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

The Food and Agricultural Organization is the branch of the United Nations assigned to eliminate world hunger. Due to the work of the United Nations, countries such as Morocco and Chile have achieved the goal of cutting by half the number of their respective people who had suffered from hunger between the years 1990 and 2014. These numbers show the worlds ability to decrease and potentially eradicate world hunger entirely.

Due to a worldwide lack of attention, supply, and support, an estimated 41 percent of Bangladeshi children below 5 years of age suffer from chronic undernutrition or stunting and subsequently are unable to develop to their full physical and mental potential. These effects last a lifetime. Similarly, in Bangladesh the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees attempts to provide not only protection and assistance to refugees residing in camps, but also to help address their humanitarian needs and ensure that a minimum standard of living is met. Due to the spiked population of refugees in South East Asian countries such as (listed in order of severity) Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh considers the support of this universal aid a constitutional obligation.

It is a standing mission of The People's Republic of Bangladesh to promote and protect every Bangladeshi individual and their birthrights. In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Bangladesh makes a point to advocate for the worldwide necessity of adequate and nutritious food to the public, as well as support, and protect the populations of refugees. Every individual has the right to a standard of living, and it is the obligation of the United Nations to fulfill this standard and fiat panis- let there be bread.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Belarus
Delegate Name: Alexia Trevino
School: Royal Oak High School

Belarus, along with other countries believes that food is a basic human right that should be offered.Although Belarus has good food Resources from shipping in Ukraine there is also a problem with maintaining stable trade for food. AS a developing country we need to balance the money we provide.Putting too much money in an issue could take away from others.Belarus believes we should build a funding program for the refugees that provides for them but Doesn't take money away from government necessities.Where would we find a dependable resource for food? How much of the governments money should be spent?How many people can be helped? The goal is that we can provide the food sources that are reliable and needed for the refugees. We need to be able to provide enough for them. Belarus would like the main source of food given to the refugees to come from Belarus. Shipping goods back and forth, to and from other Country's, either by land or water, will be lots of extra money. Belarus also believes growing and distributing the food ourselves would shift us away from paying tax and shipping fees. If we do depend so highly on other country's for our food, and the connection is lost we may not have enough food for anyone. Funding from other country's could result in money for food to feed our Refugees. Its important to have a solution for refugees to make sure they have big necessities such as food.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Benin
Delegate Name: Claire Ronan
School: Royal Oak High School

In the past decade, Benin has found itself to be a home to more than 30,000 refugees. In more recent years that number has dropped to under 4,000. Life is already hard enough for these refugees and the inability to attain food and water only makes life for these people even more difficult. It is the FAO’s primary duty to provide those without the basic human right to food and water, with these essentials.

In 2008 the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) closed the Come camp for Togolese refugees. Many of the refugees who were still living at the camp were moved to a settlement in Agame or were left to become residents of the area. These refugees and new residents are welcome in Benin. Although Benin welcomes refugees and supports them, something must be done to keep these displaced people alive and healthy, while in camp and once the have found new residency as well. Many of these refugees and residents face food insecurity. Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social or economic access to food. It is the FAO’s primary duty to provide these people with food security.

In committee Benin would like to focus on two major points. First, establishing stronger safety nets and food assistance programs. This can be done by creating a more extensive plan based off of those stated in the High Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis of September 2010. Second, Benin would like to work on the full integration of refugees into our country. Many of these refugees are struggling with language and social changes throughout the areas, making it difficult to ask for assistance, especially when it comes to food insecurity. With stronger systems in place refugees would have the basic essentials, like food and water, that are necessary during a time of displacement as well.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Jeffery Flick
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

As Bolivia, we are generally stunned by the situation in many nations. Food is sustenance, and we want to ensure that food is safe for humans because it is a basic human right, as well as the access to food. A body with no food is like a fish with no water. The humans cannot survive, and neither can the fish. What country doesn’t want to be a healthy nation? This is where the problem lies, nations should realize the importance of food. Not only is safe food important to the entire human race, but to the refugees that have sought protection in fellow nations.

Bolivia, located in South America, is surrounded by Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile. As Bolivia, we are in the middle of these countries, and we have zero access to ocean trade routes. This can become a problem because the food we receive comes from places that are unknown. We want a better look on where our food is coming from in order to ensure safe food to our people, including our refugees. In Bolivia, we don’t have many refugees. Although, they are not citizens they are looked at as our people because they have chosen our country for protection or are seeking asylum. We believe that refugees can be granted safer food if we can control the health of the food that enters our country as a whole. However, primarily we want to ensure that our refugees receive food, and do not go hungry. This is the most important factor. We don’t want the issue of accessing a basic human right to become a negative factor of our nation. Refugees are entitled to human rights. As Bolivia, we have had that issue because we don’t have a trustworthy access to food. After accessing the food, we want to ensure that the United Nations can get the food to the refugees within our nation.

Our general goal as Bolivia, and as the Food and Agricultural Organization, is to ensure the initial task of eliminating hunger within our nation, and proposing that other nations impact their general food situation within their nation. If we can handle our own countries, we can handle the world’s food security. We can also work towards eliminating hunger in refugee camps. In order to ensure the access of food to our refugees in Bolivia, we propose nations create a UN task force to help supply food, and water to their refugees. This will give the task force the job of ensuring the food is secure, and that the refugees aren’t going hungry.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Jaire Byers
School: Grand Blanc High School

The state of Bolivia emphasizes that providing food security assistance for refugees in times of emergency is essential to not only upholding our own values but human rights. Shown consistently in major refugee camps around the world, there is simply not enough food. Refugee camps are not fulfilling the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee's recommendation "that each refugee receive more than 2,100 calories per day," nor are they fulfilling nutritional standards in food variety. The profound chronic malnutrition in nations such as Thailand, Ethiopia, and Kenya indicates that measures must be taken to ensure proper standards are met. The alleviation of this chronic malnutrition would even help to control disease. We consider proper subsistent nutrition to be a human right, so the urge to aid these refugees should be universal.

Bolivia shares a particular sympathy for this issue and those suffering because of it. With most Bolivians "relying on the agriculture sector [of the Food and Agriculture Organization] for their livelihoods," and with 40 percent of the Bolivian population unable to fund basic needs, the predicament among refugee camps worldwide is a pressing issue. Since the winter of 2013, Bolivians have been afflicted by the worst rainy season in decades and the subsequent destruction. In February of this year, the Beni area of Bolivia was grievously decimated by the flooding, suffering the worst of the floods' damage. In July, the Bolivian government terminated its aid to the central refugee camp for Beni victims, Santa Ana de Yacuma. Not unlike areas overseas, Santa Ana de Yacuma relies on humanitarian aid for its supplies, but the formation of black markets and other corruption still bars many refugees from receiving their share of rations.

We are determined to make steps toward the ultimate goal of ensuring proper subsistent nutrition for refugees worldwide. United Nations should urge central governments to remain consistent in both their aid to refugee camps and their regulation of those camps' standards. Ideally, we would like to see these measures extend to providing sufficient support to the farming community that represents much of our country—not only during these times of emergency, but well into the future—but assistance during these dire times are clearly of the highest importance in our agenda.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Kate VerMeulen
School: East Grand Rapids High School

Eliminating world hunger has been a goal of the United Nations for a long time. There are many displaced persons in need of food due to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, the recent outbreak of Ebola in Africa and the fighting in Ukraine. Canada fully supports the UN’s goal to eliminate world hunger, and has been a key partner of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in a battle to end world hunger.

Canada recognizes the importance of increasing food security in developing countries and for refugees. Additionally, Canada firmly believes that investments should be made to: drive agricultural transformation, improve nutrition, and most importantly of all, to unlock sustainable economic growth in places of insecurity. Rather than creating new goals, it is more important to act upon and improve already existing goals by implementing them. Canada agrees with and supports “Resolution 1/2008 Immediate plan of action for FAO Renewal (IPA)”. Which has goals to “[to reduce] reduction of the absolute number of people suffering from hunger, progressively ensuring a world in which all people at all times have sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life; elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all with increased food production, enhanced rural development and sustainable livelihoods; sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources, for the benefit of present and future generations.” Additionally, Canada agrees with the statement that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food […]”. [and] (Article 11(1) of the ICESCR states): “the States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food […]” (Article 25 of the UDHR), which applies to refugees today.

Additionally, Canada believes that people are needed to bring resources and food to refugees, and ensure that those resources are brought to the correct people. War and disease are factors that may interfere with such actions, and a strategy must be devised to ensure that food and resources can reach refugees safely.

Canada believes that the UN and FAO must work together to create a long-term plan to economically support countries in need of food so they can develop a working agriculture system, and urges that a short-term plan is created so refugees of war, disease, and prejudice have food supplies in times of crisis.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: China
Delegate Name: Adwoa Tandoh
School: Roeper School

The People’s Republic of China recognizes that food assistance for refugees is a serious problem in many parts of the world, whether due to drought, natural disaster, conflict, or other crisis. The People’s Republic of China would like to work diligently with other members of the committee to find a resolution to the problem of food assistance for refugees. Such a resolution must accommodate poorer and less developed countries of our committee and respect the national sovereignty of the nations from which the refugees come. Obviously food is a basic human right. No person should ever go hungry if there is anything within our power to prevent it.

The People’s Republic of China hopes to see the economic difficulties of this issue addressed. It is in the Chinese nation’s power to provide food to refugees, but what about the nations that do not have resources to support their own people, let alone the refugees of another country? These nations should not be forced to give up resources that they have in insufficient quantity. We should consider the assistance of NGO’s as a possibility to address this problem. However if the government of a country in need of assistance does not support these organizations, this limits the actions the UN, FAO and WFP can take.

This committee must not infringe on a country’s national sovereignty. So, while the People’s Republic of China recognizes that no person should ever go hungry if it can be prevented, the People’s Republic of China strongly believes that this committee must first determine whether or not a country actually wants assistance from the international community. If we cannot demonstrate the need for food aid to a nation, we must respect their wishes when implementing a resolution for this serious problem.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Congo
Delegate Name: Adrienna Martinez
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

Food insecurity has always been a major issue across the globe, caused by a variety of reasons, such as violence, insufficient amount of money, or loss of resources. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has firsthand knowledge of this problem. Many communities in our country are very rural and have limited access to natural resources and basic services. With violence on the rise in many of these areas, many people have been displaced, leaving their homes and fields behind and taking the potential production of food along with them. Thanks to the assistance of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the U.S. Government, a large sum of people in need of food and other basic necessities were aided. Although the number of refugees displaced of from their homes in the DRC is rising, the aid from various sources has lessened the blow to the population’s health and helped them meet their needs while reducing the number of crisis-affected people.

The DRC believes it is truly necessary for there to be emergency assistance for refugees and uses its own people as an example. Resulting from the aid of various places, the displaced people of the DRC have been able to survive and even lower the number of people without basic necessities. If refugees are in need of food security and are not able to do for themselves, the United Nations should be able to step in and make sure they are covered. Many lives could be in danger if the assistance is not given. There may be conflicts with some countries that wish only to fend for themselves without help from any other countries or the UN, but if an unreasonably large amount of people are disastrously affected, then something needs to be done. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been positively affected by emergency assistance for refugees and wishes to handle this matter effectively with the rest of the UN.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Brielle Ashford
School: Roeper School

Ethiopia would like to extend a fondest greeting to all esteemed delegates and honorable chairs. Ethiopia is greatly looking forward to agreeing upon an efficacious result that will aid in the FAO's main objective of eradicating hunger throughout all nations. Ethiopia most certainly recognizes food security as a basic human right, and as one of Africa’s largest hosts to refugees, is dedicated and determined to support these men, women and children fleeing from their nations in peril.

Ethiopia is heavily involved with refugees and camps, with over 140,000 refugees coming to Ethiopia for assistance from South Sudan since December, 2013. Refugees have left South Sudan not only because of the violent conflict, but also due to the astounding food deprivation they were subject to. Ethiopia is most saddened by this, as these brave people flee their countries in search of their most basic human need, they arrive at supposed safe havens only to find that the problem they attempted to leave in their past is seemingly inescapable. The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) has provided much needed sustenance for these refugees and others across the globe since 1983, however due to a devastating lack of funding, this effective program cannot provide the assistance that so many camps for refugees desperately need. Ethiopia must implore all nations that can provide funds do so urgently. Ethiopia knows that there is no possible hope for refugees without these funds.

Logistically, Ethiopia feels that nations should be mindful of the placement of refugee camps, as Ethiopia has been plagued with the woes of having camps far too close to the borders of crisis states, rendering this placement inhospitable. Although, simply changing the location of these camps is not as simple as one may think. Ethiopia would like to stress that many refugees fleeing their torn nations travel by foot, and therefore it is most convenient for those in need of assistance if these camps are closer to the borders rather than father. With this in mind, Ethiopia suggests that nations use funds not only to help these refugees, but also invest in security procedures to keep commodities and at risk refugees safe.

The nation of Ethiopia looks forward to seeing resolutions passed that include patented labels for GMOs, a call for able nations to provide much needed funding, and preliminary security measures. Ethiopia is certain that after careful deliberation, all delegations will find an agreeable resolution for these pressing issues.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: France
Delegate Name: Hannah Jones-Reiser
School: Forest Hills Central High School

France recognizes the continually rising number of displaced people throughout the world and their desperate need for food. Current conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, and Ebola-stricken countries have pushed people into surrounding countries in an attempt to escape the havoc. Oftentimes, these receptor countries are insecure in their food supply and unable to feed this new influx of people, furthering the already present disparity of the area. Having established that food is a basic human right and that the United Nations will take action to provide food assistance security to those in need of it, we must now discuss how to go about distributing said nutrition. France believes that the Committee is compelled to begin establishing criteria for UN action in the affected nations.

As part of the UN, France is aware that the UN cannot just step into a country and do as they please, even if the actions are strictly benevolent. So what would justify the UN assisting a country with its food supply? The UN and its affiliates have limited resources, and while we would like to, cannot provide sustenance to whosoever asks for it. A country should be proven to be in dire need of food, and to have a large number of refugees. The country's financial state should be taken into consideration, along with the amount of refugees currently living there and the number of refugees predicted to enter the country in the next decade, when deciding how much assistance will be allotted to that country's refugees. Unless it is proven that a country is using deceptions about its refugee population, help shall not be withheld, though it may be given minimally until a decision has been made about that country's status. The funding for this movement would be from countries who are in a position to donate, including the United States of America, France, Luxembourg, Germany, the United Kingdom, etc.

The focus of this proposition would be impoverished countries, specifically the ones in the direst need as of this moment. These include, but are not limited to, Chad, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan. These countries have the misfortune to be in the middle of turmoil caused by ISIS attacks, overlap from Syria's civil war, and Ebola. France is already sending contributions to several of these countries, but the money that we send is not enough on its own. France is proud to partner itself with the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and many others, and encourages the UN as a whole to send relief through these agencies and more. These donations will pay off in the long run by preventing the continued deterioration of the conflicted nations.

Funds given to countries by the UN will be used strictly for food, clean drinking water, and medicine. France will not support the misuse of the proffered funds, nor is the use of the money subject to any negotiation. Any misuse of the funds will result in the repayment of the amount of funds misused by the offending country. Oversight for this proposition will be comprised of two delegates from the donating countries, and one delegate from the countries who have received aid. At the end of every four months, representatives from the organizations that this money will be donated to will give a report on how the money has been distributed, what the funds have accomplished, and if the donations need to increase.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Georgia
Delegate Name: Karina Peeva
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Food security is a specifically important yet often neglected aspect of assistance for refugees that Georgia is glad to see the FAO addressing. The people displaced by conflicts around the world deserve adequate food supplies and Georgia will work to help address this issue. The situation in Iraq and Syria, outbreak of Ebola in west Africa, and fighting in Ukraine unfortunately have been recently adding to the number of refugees, already substantial from the displaced of developing countries, mainly of Somalia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Another reason for the increase in the number of refugees during the past five years are the draught-related emergencies and armed conflicts in West Africa.

Georgia has been involved with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the past and hopes to continue contributing to efforts supporting refugees. There are 259,575 refugees and internally displaced people in our country, many from the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict. Georgia has also had an influx of Chechen refugees in 1999. As implied above, the question of providing food to refugees is pertinent to not only our country but also to many others.

Food and other short-term humanitarian aid would be the usual global response in providing for refugees. Any steps we take, however, need to be considered. Not only our actions need to be taken into account, but also how each specific country will be affected individually. The impact on food security will be various. Our solutions should provide at least temporary relief, yet our actions should also facilitate development, since the majority of refugees, especially those having fled from civil conflict areas, are in a protracted situation, staying for a long time in their countries of asylum. The key to identifying a given situation in preparation for UN action will be making sure of the need of emergency action by requiring that there has been a recent influx of displaced people whose food security is low. The proper UN action should then constitute the implementation of a program customized for the situation and countries involved. Georgia would like to work with others contributing

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Noah Goff
School: Williamston High School

Food security is arguably one of the most fundamental tenets to raising quality of living in and around active war zones. The range and scope of refugee crises around the globe varies from a few hundred for local disputes and emergencies, to nearly half a million in Dadaab Kenya. The necessity for international aid in many circumstances is obvious, and that burden falls on the United Nations. Currently the procedure for allocating UN aid is not tailored to maximize the efficiency and capacity towards food. The conditions in the camps often rely on NGOs to provide the logistics, or for a country to step in on an ad-hoc basis. A proper evaluatory board, with established criteria and protocol to oversee and address the required extent of support provided to each crisis, should be the primary goal of this committee.

Beyond simply removing the case-per-case basis of aid distribution, the board would need to have the power to organize willing nations to provide the logistical support, and in some cases highlight cases which would require a military presence. Per the UN charter, military action must be undertaken by the Security Council, but it is clear that some situations require force to support humanitarian aid. The humanitarian crisis in pre-millennial somalia is an excellent example of the requisite for military force to defend emergency aid. In situations where the board felt that a situation mandated strategic enforcement, then they would also need the power to highlight the situation for further action by the UNSC. Underpinning all of these requirements, the board would need the capabilities to properly analyse each situation, including direct communication with nearby United Nations aid missions. Our purpose is to organize and optimize the current body of international law with respect towards food security and aid.

Beyond simply providing food for refugees, the UN should consider agricultural education, as well as other types of education, as a possible opportunity to enhance conditions in camps. Each family that can be self sustaining with regard to food lowers the burden on the entire camp. The board could be an excellent opportunity to organize other international efforts for distributing aid to the camps. Already international law has somewhat vague statements about *how* one would distribute aid to situations which require it. While this body should not consider rewriting the laws of the past, we ultimately need to consider the best way to optimize our efforts, to grow the global economy, and raise the standards of living for the world’s helpless.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Guatemala
Delegate Name: Kara VanAllen
School: Mattawan High School

The country of Guatemala recognizes the major disturbances and constant relocation of people around the world due to many causes such as political unrest, wars in or between countries, natural disasters or disease, and more regarding personal and economic issues. With the major relocation of these great many citizens, they must find a new place to live, one that does not lack the necessities to live, such as personal and political safety, and more importantly, food and water for consumption as food security in refugee situations tends to be insufficient. Guatemala also acknowledges that the issue of food security in refugee situations must be addressed in a practical manner, with specific and thoroughly developed plans of action. Seeing as this is so, Guatemala leans favorably toward any actions involving strict enforcement of adequate food and water supplied by a group of countries and not just the country holding the refugees. We also would encourage the discussion on what types of food and where from. It is incredibly important to Guatemala that adequate food supplies be transported to the refugees from all countries on a universal food plan with targeted global sections. Previously, the FAO had a renewal of a resolution which states, “In this connection, URGES all Member Countries to contribute extra-budgetary resources of a provisional amount of US$ 21.8 million for 2009 to a special Trust Fund established for this purpose. For transparency, the Trust Fund accounts will be publicly available and oversight will be provided by the Council supported by the Finance Committee.” Including countries that either do not host refugees, or have sufficient provisions, members of the UN should contribute to the growing numbers of refugees, and their increasing needs for food.” Guatemala believes that all countries should be participating in every way they can either with supplies or money because almost every country either has refugees from their country somewhere else or refugees from another country in theirs

We look forward to working with other states on the important and relevant topic.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Haiti
Delegate Name: Jacqueline Spiegel
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Haiti itself has qualified to receive aid due to natural disasters. We also have experienced the harm that can occur if such aid is not carefully considered and delivered. A strain of cholera never before seen in our country came with the much needed and appreciated assistance. Refugees are forced to flee their home without any preparation, without food, or water, or shelter, or often any worldly belongings. Conflicts around the world create refugees in need of basic human rights, the first and foremost being food. If we don’t first provide food to the refugees, we won’t be able to address other concerns.

With the conflict often nearby the refugees, it can be difficult to safely deliver food to the intended recipients. Anything ranging from nearby conflict to extreme weather to lack of transport makes it extremely difficult to provide for refugees. The logistical assistance provided by UPS through their foundation has proven to be a great example of how using non-governmental agencies in concert with United Nations work can provide needed assistance to refugees. Up to 80% of aid can be stolen or confiscated before it even reaches the intended refugees. Even militia groups might qualify for aid if the are malnourished.

Haiti is unable to provide any resources due to the impact of its own natural disasters and the toll it has taken on the economy and general welfare of the Country. Haiti suggests the encouragement of agriculture in order to promote self sufficiency in areas with a high refugee population whenever possible.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: India
Delegate Name: Renee DeBault
School: Vicksburg High School

Many people go to other countries to seek refuge in a safer country. The people that go to these places seek shelter, food, safety etc. Some countries have opened their borders to welcome the people in need and other countries are not as welcoming to the people in need as others.

India is open to helping people in need and opens their doors to the refugees that seek help, shelter, food etc. Refugees levels of need depend on their individual situations. Some require more assistance than others. In dire situations the UN should step in and take some sort of action.

The food distribution needs to be stricter due to people going hungry from not receiving food. The food distribution to refugee areas should be more heavily monitored. Once at the correct designation distribution to individuals should be more organized so nobody is stealing other people’s rations. Some countries may not have the resources do all this heavy monitoring and there will always be other factors that are beyond a government reach such as weather but bad workers can be easily dealt with to assure delivery.

There are countless smaller organizations that help bring aid with food and other resources to refugees. The FAO can help coordinate more groups that bring agriculture to the refugees, allowing the people to plant their own crops. It will put less stress on the government for providing and will help fix the food distribution problem. It will make refugees less dependable on the host country.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Italy
Delegate Name: Sam Hostetter
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

The right of refugees to be adequately fed was established within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that food security is a basic right. The 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees declares that public relief for refugees, such as food security, should parallel the relief given to certified citizens of the country. The problem for securing this relief funnels down to resources. Many countries are unable to provide sufficient supplies towards refugee food security. On the contrary, many countries are able to provide plentiful resources to their refugees with some remaining. United Nations’ programs like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Programme serve to provide resources to countries struggling with food security and refugees. However, despite this assistance, thousands upon thousands of refugees are left hungry in an unknown country. Over 800,000 refugees in Africa struggle with nutrition, and pleas made by the WHP and UNHCR for monetary assistance have gone unanswered.

The first step in solving the problem is addressing it and Italy’s refugee problem is one to be addressed. With our refugee count doubling since the beginning of the Middle East crises, the “gateway from the Mediterranean” struggles with refugee food security. Italy imports more food that imports and our per capita food supply has also decreased in the last decade, revealing an inadequacy of food production, for both citizens and refugees. Our example is one of many, including refugee food shortages in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, and Syria. Additionally, Italy has also provided monetary aid to feed refugees. In August of 2012, Italy sent a shipment of food assistance to feed over 600,000 inhabitants in refugee areas of Egypt. Italy has also made steps in making a Italy-Uganda partner, aiming to share ideas and assist each other in the agricultural sector.

Therefore, an accountable and efficient system put in place by the United Nations, with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Programme, will greatly benefit refugees around the globe. Any country in need of assistance should be able to receive it from the United Nations, with respect to cost, availability, transportation, and governmental conflicts. These implications are hindering the refugee food security today, and they require ramifications to work properly. To assist the United Nations in their efforts, countries in the UN with a food surplus should give a percentage towards eradicating hunger to all citizens and refugees in the world. Without this cooperation, the fight for refugee food security will fall into the same disrepair evident today.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Kuwait
Delegate Name: Delaney Webb
School: Mattawan High School

The Kuwait delegation recognizes the major disturbance and constant upheaval of people throughout the world due to many causes, some concerning political unrest, others concerning natural disasters or disease, and still others regarding economic issues and failures. With the upheaval of large numbers of people, they must find a new place of living, usually temporary and lacking the necessities of survival- even the basics of nutritious food and clean water. Food security in refugee situations tends to be insufficient.

Kuwait acknowledges that the issue of food security in refugee situations must be addressed in a practical manner, with specific and thoroughly developed plans of action. In response to this acknowledgement, Kuwait favors discussing an effective evaluation system of each situation, so that issues can be solved in the most effective manner. Kuwait would like to see an evaluation system implemented that assesses what needs can be provided in a local and safe manner, and what needs must be brought to the area of need. Ideally, this evaluation would be implemented in person, taking into consideration what authorities say as well as refugees.

Following a thorough evaluation, a customized and integrated approach should be executed. Where possible, Kuwait would favor increasing domestic food production where the refugees are located, utilizing all local resources as possible while keeping sustainability. Having the FAO team with other organization like WFP and UNHCR, Kuwait supports improving the distribution system system, so that the intended recipients receive the aid that they need. Therefore, Kuwait highly encourages discussion on an advanced tracking system and biometrics-based smart cards, like those utilized in India via WFP.

The delegation of Kuwait eagerly awaits collaborating with other states to increase and better food security in emergency and refugee situations.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Marlie Hossink
School: Vicksburg High School

New Zealand believes that it is vital to assist refugees by supplying them with emergency food and security. New Zealand takes part in this cause by resettling approximately 750 refugees a year. We work to help the people adapt to the new environment and use their strength and skills to achieve personal goals. Refugees experience awful challenges such as war, racism, oppression, discrimination, and persecution. New Zealand takes in a great amount of refugees a year and supplies them with the necessities they need to integrate into a new life. With this new life comes many new opportunities and chances for these people to achieve their goals.

A major goal of the country of New Zealand is to provide adequate food to the suffering refugees. The World Food Programme (WFP) gives food to 90 million people a year, 58 million of which are children. WFP strives to eliminate hunger through using food aid to support economic and social development, meet refugee and other emergency food needs, and promote world food security in accordance with the recommendations of the UN and FAO.

The UN can help these trying situations by gathering funds in order to support the proper nutrition of refugee groups. Currently, refugee groups are receiving insufficient funds for its humanitarian needs. It is necessary for the United Nations, and its countries, to confront the issue of malnutrition and prevent further food problems.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Anudeeta Gautam
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

To solve the problem of feeding refugees, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights established that food security is a basic human right. The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Protocol, adopted by the United Nations in 1951 and 1967 respectively, is the central feature in the present international regime for refugee protection. They declare that public relief for refugees, such as food security, should parallel the relief given to certified citizens of the country. The problem for securing this relief funnels down to resources. Many countries are unable to provide sufficient supplies towards refugee food security and need extra resources. On the contrary, many countries are able to provide plentiful resources to their refugees with some remaining. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, was created on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly to lead and organize international action for refugee protection and to resolve refugee problems around the world, along with the World Health Programme. However, despite this assistance, thousands upon thousands of refugees are left hungry in an unknown country. Over 800,000 refugees in Africa struggle with nutrition, and pleas made by the WHP and UNHCR for monetary assistance have gone unanswered.

Currently, the Food and Health Organization, or FAO, has been given about $20 million to invest on Nigeria. Numerous programs are being implemented by the FAO Representation supporting improved National Food and Nutrition Security, agriculture policy and regulatory framework, the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, decent employment for youth and women, substantial management of natural resources, disaster risk reduction, and emergency management. In West Africa, existing insecurity has impacted humanitarian operations. Many countries in the region are affected or threatened by insurgency activities, including attacks in Nigeria. Nigeria also currently faces security challenges from religious extremist activities in the north. Recurring ethno-religious conflicts and natural disasters have urged people to flee their homes and seek safety in Cameroon. Regardless if it’s ample, the FAO has been providing refugees in the country with food security; Nigeria supports the organization's work for the country.

We advocate prolonged aid with food security in Nigeria. Improving the existing system with the help of the Food and Health Organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and World Health Programme will be extremely beneficial to refugees around the globe. Any country in need of assistance should be able to receive it from the United Nations, with respect to cost, availability, transportation, and governmental conflicts. It is the UN's job to implement goals already agreed upon by the international community. To assist the United Nations in their efforts, countries in the UN with a food surplus should give a percentage towards eradicating hunger to all citizens and refugees in the world. Without this, the fight for refugee food security will fall into the same disrepair evident today.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: North Korea
Delegate Name: Emma Ristau
School: Royal Oak High School

Concerning food security assistance for refugees, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea agrees with many other nations in that it is critical for previously instituted goals to be implemented immediately. It has been established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that food is a basic human right and we must work so that no one is deprived of that right, especially in cases of refugees who are most vulnerable. The DPRK proposes that in order to provide adequate food security for refugees, the United Nations must work to firstly obtain a substantial supply of food and water, get the resources securely to their recipients without disruption from insurgency, and keep constant the flow of external resources. These are just a few of the criteria that should be considered when approaching given situations.

It is suggested that the states who possess the necessary resources and funds work in association with existing organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide the substantial supply of food refugee camps need. The DPRK asks that the other nations help to deliver the food safely to the refugees. One of the biggest issues threatening the food security for refugees is the transportation of resources to the region in which refugees temporarily reside. Air drops have been effective in the past, having delivered 1.5 million tons of aid in the world's worst emergencies over the past 15 years, according to the WFP. However, with air drops, the food is not guaranteed to be delivered to its intended recipient. Perhaps the development of air strips near refugee camps or the movement of the camps could serve as solutions.

Ultimately, the success of refugee camps depends on the funding and support we, the United Nations, provide. Organizations such as the WFP and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) cannot function effectively without support from willing nations. We all must recognize the necessity of food stability for refugees and work to maintain the influx of resources, even as the conflict dissipates from the global news cycle. Feeding the world is a top priority and the DPRK looks forward to making progress toward this goal.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Ben Simon
School: Mattawan High School

As with the UN, the Russian delegation finds that food is an unassailable human right. One of the core reasons that the UN was started was as an attempt to end world hunger. This is an admirable goal that Russia thinks will go a long way in establishing a safer, better world. There is already substantial international law in effect when it comes to solving world hunger that, as a member of the UN and as a responsible international citizen, Russia complies with. We also agree with the notion that children are supposed to have an adequate nutrition available to them if at all possible.There is suggestion of the delineation of roles when distributing food, and this is a matter that Russia also supports.

In 2007, Russia approved the “Concept of Russia’s Participation in International Development Assistance” which outlays Russia’s plan and basic stance on international emergency agriculture dispersal, among other things. This provision maintains that we will increase aid in spending for this regard and that there is a floor of .7% of our GDP that will be spent on International Development Assistance. Russia has a vast agricultural wealth that is only expected to grow after cutting off our imports from the west. In addition, Russia has a stable market economy that would allow us to inhabit other roles such as logistics or brokering between countries.

In essence, the Russian delegation feels that their are adequate laws in place that could allow for developing in regards to the diversification of roles. We feel that the UN’s mission matches ours and that it should continue to be actively pursued. Also, we do not support any repeals of these international laws or anything that requires us to donate food in a place that is controversially deemed needy.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Henry Klein
School: Kalamazoo Central High School

It has become increasingly evident that events taking place across the globe such as the recent rise of ISIL in the middle east, the looming threat of conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa have all contributed to a growing number of refugees fleeing their native land in search of aid provided by nations both tolerable and accepting. To this end, South Africa takes a stand to help in whatever way possible to bring relief to those in need. This includes providing what little food and medical supplies we can spare. We stand with the UN’s efforts to secure a steady supply of food to where ever and when ever it is needed.

South Africa primarily seeks cooperation on these issues from both members of the United Nations and the countries composing The African Union. That being said, we have a proposal to not only combat and hopefully end hunger for starving refugees, but provide solutions that can ensure a future of stability for those escaping threats posed at home and abroad. Our plan is as follows:

•Short Term Solution – Streamlining the current asylum determination system to allow for a smoother flow of refugees to be granted asylum, relieving the current congestion of unsettled refugee cases.

•Medium Term Solution – Provide job creation programs to integrate those have completed the asylum determination system, into the labor force until they are eligible to return to their country of origin.

•Long Term Solution – Encourage and enable those who were granted asylum to voluntarily return to their nation of origin and be restored to full citizenship.

Giving these refugees a temporary home not only solves the issues regarding providing enough food for them, it also grants them many other basic human necessities such as medical supplies, shelter, and clothing. This can only work if all nations economically equipped to handle this influx of people will be willing to work together to achieve a common goal.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Sudan
Delegate Name: Keaghan Bacon
School: Forest Hills Central High School

One of the many jobs that the United Nations is supposed to aid in is to stop world hunger. World hunger is affecting many countries around the entire world, including Sudan. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is supposed to supply citizens with a sufficient amount of wholesome foods, this is a quintessential right. Unfortunately, making sure everyone is provided with this nourishment, is not a very facile task. With refugees on a rise, it is hard for the organizations to supply people with food in an emergency. So our goal is to find a way to get a bigger food supply, and a way to get the food to all of the refugees.

Unfortunately the UN has cut the food rations in half due to funding. Leaving the refugees with only 1,000 calories a day to consume compared to thier regular 2,100. Previously the UN has not done anything about it besides take as many donations as possible. They make it very easy for people to donate. They can donate as easily as going online. An international law has been made that any refugees are protected and recieve the right amount of food.

Sudan wants the UN to supply the refugees with an efficient amount of food for them. Whether it's donations or find a new way to receive funding. They also need volunteers.

Sudan expects cooperation on this topic from Egypt. They are good allies that have been alied with one another for a long time and have helped each other immensely.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Sweden
Delegate Name: Cate Turner
School: East Grand Rapids High School

Sweden believes that through the support of countries with financial and medical

contributions, countries that currently live in a state of poverty may be uplifted into a better living. However, circumstances have kept food aid from the refugees. Violent conflicts, natural disasters and Ebola outbreaks in the countries that need these supplies have too many repercussions upon the people that are walking kilometers for food and water each day. According to an article on the UNHCR Tracks website, “conflict (in South Sudan) has cut off road and river access to some camps, forcing WFP to orchestrate costly airlifts and further depleting available funds. Immediate action is needed to ensure both humanitarian access and sustained funding”.

The world already has many declarations, conventions and protocols such as the 1996

Rome Declaration on World Food Security and Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees that have already established food security as a “basic human right”.

Organizations such as the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are suffering shortages in supplies due to an increased price in getting supplies to the refugee camps. With conflicts and natural disasters displacing many refugees in desperate need of food, Sweden deplores other member states to continue to or start to contribute financially to food aid organizations. With these contributions, Sweden hopes that the better, yet more expensive options may be used.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Tunisia
Delegate Name: Carson Van Skiver
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Food security is part of European Neighborhood Policy, and one of the ways to measure the security of food is an EFSA. EFSA stands for ‘Emergency Food Security Analysis.’ These are performed for disasters and to predict the outcome of certain situations. An EFSA answers the following key questions: Does the crisis have an impact on the population's food security and their livelihoods? How severe is the situation? Has the level of malnutrition been exacerbated by the crisis? How are people coping? How many people are food insecure and where are they? This can be applied to different situations, especially to refugee camps. The mass arrival of refugees induces both short- and long-term consequences to hosting countries. There are a number of direct and indirect food-security consequences of hosting refugees. In the short run, violence, environmental degradation, and disease propagation are risks, with indirect implications for food security, while the long-run can include changes in infrastructure, trade, and labor markets, as well as competition for resources.

As of June 14 to 20, 2011, Tunisia was hosting 41, 500 Libyan Refugees coming from Tripoli or from the western regions, fleeing insecurity and lack of income. This survey was done to find the food security of the refugees. Some of these refugees stayed at the Shousha camp on the border of Libya and Tunisia. This camp is popular to refugees fleeing from war and other things in the area surrounding Tunisia. In April, the thwar based in Libya's desert interior attacked a border crossing 300 kilometers southwest of Tripoli; found it inexplicably lightly-defended; and seized it, opening an escape route to neighboring Tunisia. Over the next month, more than 60,000 people drained from Libya into Tunisia. The majority of these refugees found private shelter with families in Tataouine, a rural town on the edge of the Tunisian Sahara. This provides a need for emergency food supplies for these internally displaced people. Tunisia, along with the United Nations World Food Program, are able to help these refugees.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Michelle Ratchford
School: Roeper School

It is a pleasure to be here with all the other delegations and chairs to discuss the imperative topic of Emergency Food Security. Turkey is looking forward to swiftly finding the most effective method of providing aid with the FAO and their central goal of combating global hunger. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has established food security as a basic human right. Additionally, the Convention on the Rights of the Child calls upon states to ensure that children have access to “adequate nutritious foods.” Turkey, unquestionably, believes that food security is a human right that should always be available, and wants to continue providing food security to the many refugees who flee to our nation after the devastation of their own.

To escape an intensifying violent Syrian conflict, many Syrian citizens continue to flee from their home country to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and our nation, with limited assets, resources, and funds. These families are becoming increasingly dependent on humanitarian assistance. Also, a needs assessment of these refugee Syrian citizens has demonstrated that food is a priority of the utmost importance. In response, the World Food Programme (WFP) launched a Regional Refugee Emergency Operation that provides the needed food assistance as part of a broader framework of support to these brave refugees under the leadership of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Sadly, because of a calamitous lack of funding, the program cannot take full effect and provide the food assistance that these refugees desperately need. Turkey strongly encourages any nations that are actively providing security to refugees or not, to donate funds and resources within reason.

Placement of refugee camps is imperative. Since Turkey shares a border with Syria, it is particularly grueling for Syrian refugees to escape safely into Turkey’s bounds. Changing the location of our nation’s refugee camps would not be a simple feat, but Turkey believes it is convenient and necessary for camps to be near our border for the Syrian refugees who flee their country by foot. With this in mind, Turkey would like to strongly urge other nations to help provide funds, not only food assistance that is desperately needed for the survival of these refugees, but also assistance that will help make the journey these refugees take part in and the refugees themselves more secure. Turkey believes that, while this may not be an extravagant success, it will provide the security needed for these refugees while their country is at unrest.

Turkey is looking forward to meeting with all the other delegates in hopes of finding passable resolutions to resolve these imperative issues.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Raquel Avila
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

In recent years, conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have forced large numbers of people to abandon their homes and flee to safe havens. As more and more people are being displaced food sources are becoming scarce. People flee to refugee camps hoping to return home soon. However, displacements can last for generations. Refugee camps were only built to receive refugees temporarily meaning that basic human needs were designed to be met for a specific amount of time. This leads to widespread starvation among refugee communities. The Food and Agriculture Organization want to provide food to those that is unable to get it, for those that are starving.

Over the years, the United Kingdom’s contributions to help other countries have increased. We help other countries in need by giving them money. This year alone, we have donated $32,480,917 to the Syrian Arab Republic for those that had to flee their homes due to the civil war. In the last year, three thousand three hundred forty-three people from Pakistan found refuge in the United Kingdom. The majority of people the seek refuge in the United Kingdom do not have the right to work in that country but they are given cash support. £36.62 is given to each person, per week for food, clothing and sanitation. The United Kingdom provides care to those countries that are most in need.

The United Kingdom is in full support towards emergency food assistance for refugees. We would like to see an improvement on how the people receive the assistance because food gets stolen and used as political leverage. The security of the assistance should be considered since the people who need the aid the most may not be receiving it due to misuse and theft. The amount of assistance being sent should depend on which country is in the most need and the number of people that are in need of those assistance, therefore a set of criteria must be established in order to judge the amount of need in an area. As a global community, it is our duty to ensure that refugees receive their aid safely and with no string attached.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Anna Levashkevich
School: Grand Blanc High School

The current number of people displaced due to conflicts such as war, natural disasters, or persecution on basis of race or religion is approximated to be 175 million. With statistics like this it is difficult to argue that providing assistance to refugees is not a pressing topic. However, many countries are hesitant to take more vigorous action. A common misconception is that there is simply no possibility to produce enough food to truly provide a solution, but this is not true, there is a sufficient amount of food produced to solve the problem. About 30% of the produced food is wasted, it is a seemingly simple matter of using our resources efficiently. Our maintained belief is that more dynamic actions will not only help the countries in need of assistance but also the benefit the assisting countries.

The United Kingdom has a long-standing history with charitable acts towards refugees of all backgrounds. Our generosity does not abruptly end at simply offering help at an arm’s length, we have always been a haven for refugees. We have offered asylum to Jewish, Hungarian, Ugandan Asian, Soviet Union, Chilean, Vietnamese, Bosnian, and Kosovan refugees. What we have found is that refugees are an economical and social asset. By example we have proved that providing assistance to refugees does not hinder the country providing assistance. Due to our past success with the assistance of refugees, and our responsibilities as a world power, we feel that something as simple as providing food for the growing number of refugees is an undeniable obligation of all nations capable of assistance. Recent action includes the decision to provide admittance for five hundred Syrian refugees into our nation, we have already begun sending food and supplies to refugees in Northern Iraq, and we have pledged £52 million in aid to the Syrian people.

In the past few years we have grown increasingly concerned with the efficiency of the Food and Agriculture organization, our concern had at one point gotten so grave that threats were being made of withdrawing funds if efforts to advance were not evident. We are appreciative of the improvement made, but believe that a greater degree of transparency in the organization is necessary. A relatively new concern has arisen in the are of providing food to refugees; it is estimated that a quarter of refugee camps are suffering not only from malnutrition but also of obesity. This can be attributed to the high starch content of the majority of the food sent to the camps. There is not enough fruits and vegetables being sent to these camps to sustain a adequate, healthy diets, it is necessary to develop a plan that allows for a more beneficial diet, and is still economical and manageable in cost. We need to encourage family farms and small farms in camps for better long term sustainment, family farms would have a greater ability to increase availability of food in small communities. We believe that in order to provide the best solution possible we need to provide more vigorous aid to refugees, achieve a more efficient system with in the FAO, explore including healthier options with our assistance, and encourage small scale farming.

Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Madison Ford
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Since we have seen a rise in conflict within the international community, we have also seen a rise in the refugee crisis. From Syria to Kenya and Tunisia, refugees often find themselves without food, water, or adequate living spaces, simply because they had to flee their own homes for political, economic, or safety reasons. Because access to food supplies is considered a basic human right, it is paramount that we give refugees access to food as quickly as possible so as to save people from dying of hunger as well as helping them build immunity to diseases. Without proper nutrition, we cannot even begin to address the issues of illness and disease.

The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants helps to protect refugees worldwide, with specific programs to help prevent human trafficking and to get necessary supplies to them. The U.S.A. has also given aid to the refugees that had to flee Syria due to the civil war. The U.S. Migration and Refugee Assistance account provides funding to assist overseas refugees as well as protection from conflict and emergency food. In 2013, The U.S. signed onto the Food Assistance Convention to help address food and nutritional issues for the most vulnerable populations.

The United States believes that the vast supply of GMO foods can help to supply emergency food to refugees in a manner that is affordable and sustainable. These GMO crops can be transported by safe and efficient vehicles such as helicopters or large trucks that can travel over rough terrain. The Food and Agricultural Organization can oversee the transport of the food to ensure it is actually reaching the refugees. The United States is committed to helping refugees have access to food when they need it.