CAMBODIA: UN LAUNCHES ONLINE MAP TO IDENTIFY FOOD INSECURITY

CAMBODIA: UN LAUNCHES ONLINE MAP TO IDENTIFY FOOD INSECURITY New York, Feb 15 2008 4:00PM The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) has launched an interactive and online map of Cambodia to identify areas of food insecurity so that it can better ascertain where to step up its aid in the South-East Asian country.

"It illustrates the fact that food security goes far beyond sufficient food production, but is affected by poverty, maternal health, access to clean water and health services, as well as shocks such as natural disasters and other socio-economic vulnerability," said the agency's Cambodia Country Director Thomas Keusters.

Despite the recent economic improvements in Cambodia – where levels of hunger vary by region and by social group – the new WFP Food Security Atlas highlights how food security continues to be a challenge.

The tool, created by WFP in concert with the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development of Cambodia, is especially relevant given such factors as climate change, shifts in food availability, high energy prices and globalization, Mr. Keusters pointed out.

"I am hopeful that the atlas will improve the handling of hunger in Cambodia by serving as an important reference in formulating the right kind of interventions," he said.
2008-02-15 00:00:00.000

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