Conclusion
110. Hunger and malnutrition have been significant
problems for the world for many years, but the food crisis is
pushing borderline communities over the edge. The international
community needs to find opportunities for long-term improvements
to food security for poor people. A creative approach is needed.
As Alex Evans from New York University told us, "Development
advocates may find that the emergence of food as a top rank political
issue provides them with an opportunity to form new alliances,
new coalitions and drivers for change."[228]
111. The WFP, by broad consensus, does a fine
job of providing assistance at the frontline of hunger. Its work
in some of the most challenging and dangerous environments in
the world—key countries include Somalia, Sudan, Burma and
Zimbabwe—makes the difference between life and death for
millions of people. In this report, we have striven to be a 'critical
friend', suggesting new opportunities and ways to strengthen the
WFP's crucial work within the broader UN context. We have set
out the ways in which we think DFID could best support the agency.
112. The major lesson from the current food crisis
hinges on the 'security' element of this report's title. The international
community must do more to support poor communities in building
resilience to the 'shocks'—economic, social or environmental—which
are hitting populations with increasing frequency and inhibiting
their access to food. This means taking the long view and working
hard to prevent hunger and malnutrition through approaches that
help protect communities from external factors outside their control.
Sustained investment in nutrition and agricultural development
is one route towards this. Another is to intensify the process
of UN reform so that this collective entity works as efficiently
as possible in reaching each and every person who is currently
trapped by hunger. Only then will the international system be
fulfilling its obligations to the many hungry and malnourished
in the world.
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