Topic: Emergency Food Security Assistance for Refugees
Country: Benin
Delegate Name: Claire Ronan
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Benin position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
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.
