Coping with COVID-19 in the Near East and North Africa

FAO Deputy Regional Representative for North Africa and Near East, Serge Nakuzi and Director of FAO’s Liaison Office in Brussels Rodrigo de Lapuerta met with Henrike Trautmann, acting Director Neighbourhood South at the EU Commission Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). The meeting was an opportunity to reinforce the common vision that FAO and the EU have on tackling the challenges in the region.

The partners discussed specific concerns on the growing food insecurity situation in the region, which is mainly caused by conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting livelihoods and disproportionally affecting the most vulnerable groups. To better cope with the virus outbreak, governments in the region have put in place measures to mitigate its impact on food security. Building resilience in crises and emergency situations is one of the main FAO objectives in the region and is implemented through the FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme.