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Session 1:

Session 1:. Understanding How a Pandemic May Affect Food Security . Today’s Objectives: . To provide a thorough introduction to the basic elements of food security To help key responders understand how a pandemic may impact the food security

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Session 1:

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  1. Session 1: Understanding How a Pandemic May Affect Food Security

  2. Today’s Objectives: • To provide a thorough introduction to the basic elements of food security • To help key responders understand how a pandemic may impact the food security • To introduce measures that can be taken to prevent, alleviate, and respond to many of a pandemic’s negative consequences on food security.

  3. What is Food Security? Food security depends on 3 main pillars: Utilization - the way people’s bodies are able to use the food they eat Availability - food is physically present. Access - individuals have the resources to obtain available food

  4. First signs that a pandemic is causing a food security problem • Business and industries that rely on import and export are struggling • Food supplies are hard to get locally • Economic activities are disrupted

  5. Why key responders need to prepare now… • By the time we notice food shortages it will be too late to produce more food locally or to obtain food aid in time. • Acquiring food for communities will be difficult if transportation systems break down. • Purchasing and stockpiling food to get through a 6-12 week pandemic wave may become very expensive as food prices rise.

  6. What must key responders do to protect the three pillars of food security in a pandemic? availability - secure essential food stocks during successive waves of up to 6-12 weeks access - ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable individuals, can obtain food utilization - educate the public about proper nutrition, safe food & water storage, and the need for increased hygiene - work with other stakeholders to reduce malnutrition and other debilitating diseases

  7. Food Availability What could cause availability problems in the first few weeks? • Disrupted transportation systems • Insufficient food supplies to begin with, due to: • Limited home food production/ processing • Small harvests due to drought, flooding, etc. • Majority of locally produced food is exported What could add to these availabilityproblems as the pandemic progresses? • Less local food production and smaller harvests due to sickness • Food spoils due to improper storage/ power outages

  8. What can we do to ensure food is available? • Educate the public about the critical need to prepare for HH food shortages • Increase HH and community food production • Transport and stockpile foods for emergency distribution • Discourage hoarding

  9. Food Access What might prevent access during a pandemic ? • Reduced income • Illness, disrupted transportation • Increased prices • Hoarding • Homebound caring for the ill • Merchant speculation • Social distancing measures • Closed shops – shopkeeper fear

  10. What can we do to reduce food access problems? • Identify households most at risk • Encourage barter of food and resources • Home-delivered food to most needy • Food voucher programs • Fair price shops • Discourage hoarding • Transportation support for producers • Price freezes on staple/ nutritious foods

  11. Food Utilization What could cause food utilization problems during a pandemic ? • Existing disease • Increased disease • Pandemic virus, sanitation problems, contaminated drinking water • Shortages of high-energy or fresh foods • Power outages impact safe food storage and preparation

  12. What can we do to reduce food utilization problems? • Educate the public about the need for increased hygiene, water treatment and storage, and nutritional food requirements • Distribute containers for proper water storage • Encourage households to grow fruits and vegetables • Work with other stakeholders to reduce existing disease

  13. Food Security is a Multi-sectoral Challenge Potential Key Partners • Agricultural producers and processors • Commerce and industry employers • Labor and farmer associations • Humanitarian and development nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) • National emergency management agencies • Public works and water agencies • Community leaders and teachers • Food wholesalers and retail markets • Transportation companies/associations • Community-based and religious organizations • Health centers and hospitals • Public security agencies

  14. Food Security is a Multi-sectoral Challenge

  15. Summary The tool “Food Security in a Pandemic” will help you to understand: • the basic elements of food security • how a pandemic will impact the food security of communities • measures that can be taken to prevent, alleviate, and respond to many of a pandemic’s negative consequences on food security.

  16. Thank You

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