Launch of the 2019 Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition

 

Four UN Agencies to warn on the state of malnutrition across Asia-Pacific and call for nutrition to be placed at the heart of social protection programmes

Bangkok – With nearly half-a-billion of the world’s undernourished people living in Asia-Pacific – and with the 2030 deadline for Zero Hunger just more than a decade away – four specialized agencies of the United Nations are calling for urgent action to address hunger in all its forms, and, for the first time in this region, to take decisive, informed and coordinated action to place nutrition at the heart of social protection programmes.

The four agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – will publish their joint report and call to action on Wednesday, 11 December at the Plaza Athenee Hotel in Bangkok (8:30 registration for 9:00 am opening).

The latest figures relating to hunger, child stunting and wasting make for grim reading amid the emerging nutritional complications thrown up by a crisis of overweight and obesity sweeping the region.

Media representatives are cordially invited to participate in the presentation of the report: “Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition.” (Plaza Athenee Hotel – 61 Wireless Road, Bangkok – 11 December 09:00) A Question and Answer Session from the open floor will immediately follow the presentation. Spokespeople from the four UN agencies will be available.

The Q&A will be followed by a Keynote Speech from Michael Samson, Director of Research at the Economic Policy Research Institute.

A panel discussion on “Making social protection more nutrition-sensitive” will close out the substantive session. Regional Heads and their representatives from the four UN agencies will also participate and will be available. Invitees include other UN partners, embassies, government organizations, private sector and academia.

 

For further information, contact:
Allan Dow, FAO Regional Communication Officer (Asia-Pacific)
[email protected]  Tel: +66818997354