APN | Cairo – Zoom
27 July 2023
Razan Zuayter, a member of the Sub-committee for the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region at the League of Arab States (LAS), APN Chairperson of the Board, and the Founder of the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty, conducted a critical analysis and delivered her feedback on the proposed Arab Food Security Strategy.
Zuayter was invited to a meeting of the Sub-committee for the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region at the League of Arab States (LAS) to discuss the strategy, whose preparation was assigned to the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of food insecurity in the Arab world and using the terms "occupation," "inter-state conflicts," and "protracted crises" to describe the situations in several Arab countries.
She highlighted that Arab integration is essential and should be reflected in all investment and trade aspects among Arab countries.
Concerning flexibility, Zuayter commented that the goal should not be mere adaptation but rather confronting weaknesses, promoting recovery, and preventing the recurrence of crises; otherwise, we will remain stagnant.
She underscored the dangers of integrating “seeking sustainable livelihoods” for refugees and displaced individuals in the strategy without attempts to return, to avoid permanent refugee displacement. Supporting their welfare and voluntary return to their home country is essential to halting the ongoing war and the siege.
Zuayter also stressed that the strategy's importance lies in increasing and strengthening production, and not confusing plans and programs related to food loss in the primary agricultural chain, which is most significant in our low-income countries, with food waste, which is higher in high-income countries.
It is worth mentioning that Zuayter was one of the eleven invitees to attend the signing ceremony of the "Initiative for Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region" in October 2022, with the participation of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (LAS), Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the 32nd Arab Summit in Jeddah.