In a June 9 Policy Brief, UN Secretary General António Guterres focused on the need to safeguard everyone’s access to food and adequate nutrition: for now, and in the future.
As the Secretary-General pointed out, millions were already grappling with hunger and malnutrition before the pandemic.
While there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone, more than 820 million people still do not get enough to eat, and numbers no doubt will rise.
Meanwhile, some 144 million children worldwide under the age of five are stunted, meaning they are too small for their age, mainly due to malnutrition.
Mr. Guterres added that even in countries with abundant food, COVID-19 risks disrupting food supply chains.
“Our food systems are failing, and the COVID-19 pandemic is making things worse,” he said.
The UN policy brief proposes actions, including, the brief recommends leveraging, adapting, and scaling up large-scale social safety nets, such as school meal programs. Priority action 1.1
Declares food production, marketing and distribution as essential services everywhere to keep trade corridors open to ensure the continuous functioning of the critical aspects of food systems in all countries. Priority action 1.2
Strengthen social protection systems for nutrition includes integrating: “Nutrition, safe, affordable and sustainable diets” “Adequate labeling and marketing of foods”, and “Fortification of complementary foods”. Priority action
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