Joint OCHA/UNHCR Launch of the Humanitarian Flash Appeal and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine

Joint OCHA/UNHCR Launch of the Humanitarian Flash Appeal

and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine 

Statement

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

As prepared

1 March 2022

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

1. In 2021, 1 in 4 people in Eastern Ukraine were already food insecure as a result of various challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic,

 

2. With 1.1 million people in need of food and agricultural assistance.

 

3. With the situation unfolding rapidly, we are deeply concerned about the potential impact on access to food for a large number of people in affected areas.

 

4. FAO will scale up support in providing cash for vulnerable households and emergency agricultural support, together with local partners, as soon as the situation permits.

 

5. As part of our commitment to the collective humanitarian response, FAO co-leads the Food Security and Livelihoods cluster in Ukraine,

 

6. And will continue to fulfil its mandate, and work to Stay and Deliver.

 

7. To do this, the partners in the Cluster, including FAO require 183.5 million US Dollars.

 

8. Some 2.8 million people are being targeted for food assistance,

 

9. Out of which 1.3 million people will receive multi-purpose cash,

 

10. And 1.5 million will be included in the cluster response to improve food security and livelihoods.

 

11. Scaling-up access to food and food security must be a collective priority, and demands our collective attention.

 

12. The evolution of the situation could have implications for food security beyond the Ukraine borders,

 

13. Including for food security in a number of countries who rely to varying degrees on wheat sourced from that region.

 

14. FAO stands ready to provide all its technical knowledge in support of all those in need of assistance.

 

15. Thank you.