World must act to tackle hunger and poverty, says Princess Haya

Head of Dubai global aid centre says our inaction could lead to loss of humanity.

Princess Haya of Jordan makes an impassioned plea at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

DUBAI // The world must act to help the hundreds of millions of people who live each day in hunger and poverty or risk “losing our humanity”, Princess Haya of Jordan said on Monday.

Ending world hunger is imperative for humanitarian, political and economic reasons, Princess Haya told the second day of the World Government Summit at Madinat Jumeirah.

“There are still 800 million people in the world who are suffering hunger and poverty,” she said.

“The poor and the hungry do not think about anything but how to gain their daily bread. If we don’t move on that then we lose our humanity, something that is worse than the disaster itself.”

Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, urged leaders and policymakers to pursue ways to help those in need.

She said the launch of the UAE Food Bank programme was a step in contributing to the elimination of hunger around the UAE and the globe.

“Our plan of action on a humanitarian level will start by putting an end to hunger and then fighting poverty through innovation and transparency,” Princess Haya said.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation says that annual food waste worldwide is worth about US$2.6 trillion, or Dh9.54tn, she said.

Princess Haya said that figure took “into account the required workforce, energy and water for producing it.

“This waste can feed three times the population of the Earth, including the 800 million hungry today.”

She said that the International Humanitarian City, of which she is chairwoman, has started to collect and organise data that could be used to speed up response efforts.

“I would like propose that we create a global hub for humanitarian data on logistics and aid deliveries to be hosted by the IHC,” Princess Haya said.

“I ask all of you here today, as representatives for your governments, as well as other governments around the world, to provide any specialised data to assist and to document your experiences.

“I also call upon the technology sector to work with aid providers in the field to ensure more advanced technological services to relief workers around the world.”

The Humanitarian Logistic Data Bank will depend on the use of technology in charitable aid for a quick response to those in need, said Princess Haya.

The UAE, she said, was one of the most generous donors of foreign aid in 2015.

The development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development says the UAE was the biggest donor with 1.3 per cent of gross national income on foreign development aid.

“The UAE gave Dh32 billion in aid,” she said. “The UAE will continue in line with the Year of Giving to be one of the most humanitarian countries in the world.”

More than $22bn is needed to tackle the various humanitarian crises around the world, a figure that is 10 times more than what was needed in 2000.

“More than 65 million people have been displaced due to conflicts in the region, including Syrian, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria and others,” Princess Haya said.

“Around 50 million are expected to be displaced as a result of climate change and war within the next decade.”