Food security needs to be maintained

EVERY day, one in nine people around the world goes hungry because there is not enough food to go around.
The problem has been compounded by climate change, which has been having a devastating impact on food security.
Severe drought has often led to shortage of food, water and energy.
The country has been hit natural disasters over the past couple of months with many people left homeless with no food, water or proper sanitation.
When disasters strike, they have a direct impact on the livelihoods and food security.
Food security is a condition related to the supply of food, and individuals’ access to it.
Food security has become a major global issue and concern.
Food security is an issue that needs to be highlighted before it reaches the crisis point in nutrition, which is of great concern under both normal and emergency situations.
For now, we can say the level of food security has declined dramatically. This then leads to malnutrition which is already a problem in Papua New Guinea and the underlying cause of many
deaths of children under the age of five.
The scenario in our disaster affected areas, recently in the Highlands, the Kadovar victims, those currently at the care centres in Bogia and even in the settlements and villages must be attended to with urgency. It is a time bomb.
Living in such conditions limits not only children’s growth but also their future learning and income-earning potential which make the inter-generational cycle of malnutrition and poverty worse.
Children who suffer from malnutrition are likely to die of treatable diseases like diarrhea and chest infections.
A child’s physical growth and mental development can become permanently impaired, and in severe cases, the child can die of malnutrition if not treated.
Malnutrition occurs when poor consumption of nutritious food threatens the healthy functioning of the body and its organs.
For the Highlands areas affected by the recent earthquake, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has been right in saying it will take years for the region to attain full recovery.
He said the immediate focus is now on the restoration of essential services.
The delivery of clean water, food and shelter remains a priority, as well as the restoration of other essential services including electricity and communications are important. Medical teams must be dispatched to all care centres to conduct basic checks on everyone so those needing specialist attention are taken to hospitals.
What needs to be done for the communities in the affected areas is to maintain the food supply chain. Cleanliness and hygiene are two critical factors which need to be ensured to prevent disease outbreaks.
Food safety during disasters is an important issue.
Apart from the distribution of food, the office of the emergency controller should create a clear understanding to ensure the coordination of efforts by the Government, donors, civil society organisations and the private sector.