UAE among top donors to WFP: UN official
DUBAI, 21st February, 2022 – Mageed Yahia, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Director, UAE office, and Representative for the GCC Region, said the UAE is among the WFP’s leading international donors, noting the country’s key role in providing financial and logistical support, to reach out to needy people around the world.
In an exclusive interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Yahia said Expo 2020 Dubai is an unparalleled global gathering like the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meetings that all countries attend, commending the event’s activities and discussion topics.
He added the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week at Expo 2020 Dubai is key to addressing poverty, by sharing ideas and new initiatives.
He also pointed out that the WFP has benefitted from taking part in Expo 2020 Dubai, due to the importance of the event, which is witnessing the participation of over 192 countries and is holding various events on what is happening in the world.
He also hoped that the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods Week would share many ideas and initiatives in the area of poverty eradication.
On global hunger and its causes, Yahia said more than 800 million people around the world are suffering from food insecurity, and the leading causes of poverty include armed conflicts, affirming that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has worsened humanitarian conditions, with 45 million people in 43 countries facing the threat of famine.
On ways of addressing food insecurity, he explained that the world is producing excess food, therefore, armed conflicts and war should be stopped and international cooperation must be promoted to support the food system, in order to reach out to one billion people suffering from food shortages.
He then stressed the fact that the UAE is a leading country in terms of supporting the WFP’s operations in many regions around the world, adding that there are two types of support, which are financial aid and helping the programme reach areas in need.
He also noted that the UAE fulfils both roles by using the WFP’s offices and warehouses in Dubai, which benefit from the city’s geographic location and logistics facilities.
On the support needed to address global hunger, Yahia said the WFP received over US$9.
5 billion in aid in 2021, but the world will need $15 billion in 2022, as this issue is increasing yearly.
The UAE constantly supports the programme and has assisted its several countries, he concluded.