Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: France
Delegate Name: Hannah Hudack
Great Lakes Invitational Model UN Nations Conference
Committee: Food Agriculture Organization
Delegation: France
Famine in Conflict Zones Among France
Within conflict zones, there are about 168 million people experiencing stages of hunger, or even famine. This issue roots from situations of destroyed crops, slowed food production, and people becoming displaced, all because of the wars occurring. Famine is the state of having no access to food for long periods of time, causing disease and starvation. This is exactly what is occurring in some countries because of the conflicts they are in. Families must flee their homes, jobs, and possessions due to the unsafe environments that have taken over their lives. Because of this, starvation and malnutrition begin since these people have no way of getting food, and even if they did, it would not last long enough for them to survive. Countries that are currently experiencing significant hunger because of wars are Mali, South Sudan, and Burkina Faso (Countries). Although this is more common in African countries, Ukraine’s grain production has dramatically decreased because of the war, and countries in Eastern Asia like Afghanistan and Pakistan are also having a food crisis (Food). The Integrated Food Security Classification is a scale that measures which countries are more likely to deal with hunger, which leads the Food Agriculture Organization to know which regions are in more need of food than others. Using this scale along with other observations enable a focused to be placed on famine and although it cannot be fixed immediately it can be helped by using NGOs and other organizations to ensure that our world, and future generations, don’t starve.
France acts as a contributor to those in this situation, not a country that is experiencing famine. Already in 2023, France has donated 500,000 Euros to aid Malawi and another 500,000 Euros to aid Sri Lanka with their economic crisis (France). These are only two out of several contributions France has made to combat world hunger. Not only are they just donating but France acts as a prominent figure in ideas to prevent famine. France has a plan to increase the production of fish in their farms and contribute these fish to the countries in need. However, this plan has sparked pushback for many reasons. The public is stating that this is animal abuse, since the fish are crammed in very little pools of water and are living in these poor conditions, often getting little to no food. Secondly, salmon are carnivores, which means that this plan needs to kill millions of other fish in order for them to be fed, which could also be considered animal abuse (Welfarm). NGOs and public opinions have sparked pushback on this plan and leads France to find a different solution. France has been trying to reestablish Ukraine’s grain system to get their food production back on track and has even donated 6 million euros to help their program (Food). However, even though France is a contributor, it does not mean that they can do this on their own, and that’s why they are part of the World Food Program in order to find solutions.
Solutions in this issue can come from many different establishments. Not only can these come from France since they have possible ideas, but the World Food Program should also be involved since this is their main problem occurring. The farms, “Saumon de France” and “Smart Salmon” are two of France’s biggest farms that reproduce the fish at a fast pace. Although there have been negative reviews, this idea could be one of the best answers to providing food in conflict zones. The farms produce up to 400 tons of fish annually and this is not a collective sum, but from each farm, alone. Not only are there multiple farms all over the country, but after collecting the fish, NGOs could distribute them in areas of famine and conflict. The activists going against these farms need to understand that people are starving, and this idea could significantly make things better. However, we need to also recognize that there are wars and violence occurring in these regions and this is why people cannot get the resources they need to survive (Council). Implementing an area that contains food between the regions that are fighting will be a safe option for the NGO’s and won’t act as a threat for each side, only suggesting food available to those who are starving. This would have to be agreed by the UN governing body and both parties, so they are not siding with one side, or disrupting the war.
Citations:
Council, Security. “Conflict Zone Populations Face Gravest Threat of Hunger amid COVID-19, Aid Experts Tell Security Council, Warning Food Insecurity Worldwide Expected to Double by Year’S End.” United Nations, 17 Sept. 2020, press.un.org/en/2020/sc14308.doc.htm. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“Countries Where Hunger Is Most Severe.” Action Against Hunger, 1 Jan. 2024, www.actionagainsthunger.org/the-hunger-crisis/world-hunger-facts/the-worlds-hungriest-countries/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“France’s International Strategy for Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture.” Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, 1 Jan. 2001, www.donorplatform.org/post/france-has-released-its-new-international-strategy/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“Food Security – France Continues to Take Action to Strengthen Global Food Security (26 November 2022).” France Diplomacy, 26 Nov. 2022, www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/development-assistance/other-major-sectors/food-security-nutrition-and-sustainable-agriculture/news/article/food-security-france-continues-to-take-action-to-strengthen-global-food. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
Welfarm. “In France, Projects of Salmon RAS Farms Spark off Strong Pushback from Citizens and NGOs.” Aquaculture, 16 Aug. 2024, aquaculturemag.com/2024/08/16/in-france-projects-of-salmon-ras-farms-spark-off-strong-pushback-from-citizens-and-ngos/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
