Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD), Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, has reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to aiding people suffering food shortages as a result of political conflicts or natural disasters, so as to contribute to global food security.

Sheikha Lubna's speech marked the World Food Day, celebrated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). She said that the efforts exerted by the UAE in the fields of combating hunger and related developmental issues come within the context of the directives extended by the country's wise leadership, and in the footsteps of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the nation.

Sheikha Lubna called upon all nations in the world to intensify relief efforts and build a global vision aiming at closing the ever-expanding food gap, which has become an international concern.

She stressed the need for immediate action concerning food shortage crises around the world, catastrophic situations caused by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, as well as areas where political conflicts threaten the lives and security of people and societies as whole. She called for relief bridges as the primary means of offering aid to these areas.

Sheikha Lubna said, "The wise leadership of our country has never hesitated to extend its aiding hand to any country struck with catastrophe, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity of people in need."

She also explained that the UAE always encourages cooperation with all countries of the world and all UN agencies in the field of humanitarian aid and developmental support, aiming at achieving the goals of sustainable development, which include availing decent living, and job opportunities, as well as combating poverty and pollution.

She praised the efforts of the United Nations in cooperation with member states to avail resources and build mechanisms that facilitate partnership between the private and public sectors, to invest in projects that will achieve the Millennium Development Goals, which include food security and related developmental aspects .

Sheikha Lubna noted that the efforts in combating hunger and malnutrition cannot achieve their objectives on one front, as the lack of food security has massive humanitarian, social, and economic impacts that lead to a fall in productivity, and deterioration of public health, well-being, and the ability to learn.
Source: WAM