Ministers and high-level delegates from across the Asia Pacific region, on Thursday (10/3), held a meeting that focused on improving nutrition, lives and livelihoods after the global pandemic.
The meeting also highlighted threats related to climate and severe weather, as well as dealing with diseases and pests that affect crops and livestock in the world’s most densely populated areas.
Better ecosystem responses in the Pacific Islands was another important topic discussed at the meeting.
The 36th APRC Asia and Pacific Regional Conference organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the government of Bangladesh took place in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.
FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, who attended the event in person, acknowledged the impact of the global pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of people in Asia Pacific. Referring to the FAO’s 2021 report which found that 40 percent of the population cannot afford healthy and nutritious food, Dongyu underlined the long road the region has to take to end hunger and improve nutrition.
As if changing the progress that has been made previously, hunger in the Asia Pacific region is now increasing again. The same applies to inequality, especially between rural and urban populations. Meanwhile, women and young people are often left behind. [em/jm]