Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: Caitlyn Leahy
Country: Republic of Senegal
Committee: Food and Agriculture Organization
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Delegate: Caitlyn Leahy
School: Williamston High School
One of the most urgent concerns in the United Nations is famine and malnutrition in war-torn countries that may have limited access to resources due to their conflicts. Areas like East Africa, the Gaza Strip, Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Myanmar have little food and nutrition for millions of impoverished civilians. It is estimated that 1.3 million people currently face famine. These numbers could continue to rise if the Food and Agriculture Organization does not intervene to give food to people cut off from the rest of the world by war. Malnourished children are also a deadly result of war in these countries, and giving mothers and infants adequate healthcare and resources is another important aspect to stopping famine. War-torn areas have short supplies of food due to conflicts that can destroy agriculture and governments stop supplies from reaching people in need.
Senegal is committed to aiding nations in conflict zones by participating in organizations like the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), that have passed legislation to improve food security for war zones in East Africa. The Republic of Senegal has only directly aided Sudan and its neighboring developing countries, as it is mostly interested in regional conflicts. Senegal hosts many summits and coordination efforts that involve NGOs and governments to bring solutions to starvation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Senegal is also active in legislation from the Food and Agriculture Organization that rebuilds farms in countries that had been previously destroyed by conflict.
Senegal proposes to use NGOs to deliver food to remote communities using drones, boats, or other means to reach areas with little peace as well as storage for this food near conflict-prone cities to efficiently deliver aid. Senegal also stresses the importance of adaptable agricultural practices for not only war-torn areas but also locations prone to the effects of climate change. Senegal would do this by training farmers different methods of resilient farming and different ways to improve soil. Senegal also proposes to be a main hub of food-storing and production for East African aid, because of its proximity to the conflicts. Senegal can offer financial aid to organizations and initiatives passed by the committee, although it is mainly interested in other ways to support these starving areas. Senegal is interested in working with neighboring countries that also believe that solving famine in Sudan and East Africa as their largest priority, as well as large trading partners like the US and China that can finance many of these initiatives.
