Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)

Agenda1: Eradicating malnutrition and famine, particularly amongst children, in less

economically developed countries

Agenda2: Devising methods to ensure food sanitation

Student Officers: So Hee Kim, Seo- Kyeong Park

Agenda1: Eradicating malnutrition and famine, particularly amongst

children, in less economically developed countries

I. Committee Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the

United Nations that prioritizes international public health. Established by a

declaration by Secretary General Alger Hiss, its constitution was signed by

all 51 countries of the United Nations, coming into force on the first World

H e a l t h Day on 7th April, 1948. Its priority lies in the ‘attainment by all people of the

highest possible level of health’.

Their work mainly lies in the following areas: Health Systems, Promoting health through the life

– course, Communicable and Noncommunicable disease, corporate services, Preparedness,

Surveillance and response. WHO’s decision making body, The World Health Assembly, attended

by all WHO member States, works to create solutions regarding a specific health agenda

provided by the Executive Board, and is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

II. Agenda Introduction

Malnutrition, a condition resulting from a diet lacking the nutrients necessary for human bodies,

accounts for 54 percent of child death worldwide, as estimated by the World Health

Organization. Malnutrition caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practices leads to

860,000 deaths per year in children under five years of age.

Famine, a phenomenon of widespread scarcity of food caused by crop failure, population

imbalance, government policies and so on, had its dramatic fall until 2017. As reported by the

World Peace Foundation, from the 1870s to the 1970s, an average of 928,000 people died from

great famine, whereas since 1980, the annual deaths dropped to an average of 75000, down 10%

compared to the 1970s. However, in 2017, the UN officially declared that famine had returned to

Africa. The problem of famine is especially bigger for children and women in South Africa.

Nearly 1.4 million children are at immediate risk of death just this year. In each of the countries

with famine, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and north – east Nigeria, 22 million children are

hungry, sick and displaced out of school due to famine.

With the increasing rates of malnutrition and famine, prolonged wars and conflict are also

devastating lives of millions of families, and also increases the threat of famine. As warring

parties force people from their homes and take away their livelihood, they block humanitarian

agencies’ efforts to reach those in dire need for basic necessities such as food and clean water.

Combined with external factors, malnutrition and famine poses a threat to the health of the

children all over the world, especially in third – world countries.

i) Definition of key terms

1) Malnutrition

Malnutrition is the lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating

enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat. The effects of

malnutrition include the increased risk of infection and infectious disease, and weakened

immune system. People with malnutrition also show signs of having lower energy and impaired

function of the brain.

ii) Famine

Famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by factors including crop failure, population

imbalance, or government policies. Usually accompanied by regional malnutrition, starvation,

and epidemic, it is the cause of increased mortality. Every continent in the world has experiences

a period of famine throughout history. Currently, famine has been declared in parts of Africa.

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ii) Urgency & importance of this agenda

Malnutrition, also known as undernutrition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO),

is the main cause for nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five years old. It is

widespread in especially Asia and Africa. Malnutrition also increases the risks and severity of

common infections. The interplay between undernutrition and infection has the potential to

create a cycle of worsening illness and deteriorating nutritional status. Malnutrition in the earlier

years of a child can also lead to stunted growth.

Famine accompanied by malnutrition and starvation can cause the death of millions throughout

the world, especially those in Africa and Asia. Formal bodies estimate that famine can increase in

later years as well. ‘The Guardian’ reports that in 2007, approximately 40 percent of the

agricultural land is seriously degraded. Deterioration of soil continues in Africa, and it is

predicted that by 2025 Africa would only be able to feed 25 percent of its population, as reported

by UNU’s Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.

The effects of malnutrition and famine would be disastrous, if no effort is made. The children in

famine countries would face hunger, and they will lose the chance for the future.

III. Status Quo

Famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan and the food security situation is of grave

concern in 6 other countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, and Yemen. Severe

malnutrition has been reported in the most affected countries. The UN, in collaboration with

partners, developed a 5-level classification system to help governments and humanitarian actors

assess and respond to the need for food in a given country.

As countries are facing famine, the top United Nations humanitarian official urged the

international community for comprehensive action to save people from starvation and

malnutrition. The UN has warned that about 40 percent of South Sudan’s population are in dire

need of humanitarian assistance and that people are dying from the hunger.

Many countries have donated funds in order to save Sudan from the threats of famine, The US

remains the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, having provided

more than $2.1bn since 2014. The EU and the UK government also provided funds for South

Sudan.

IV. History

The history of famine goes back to the start of agriculture, and ever since, famine has moved in a

cycle which is deeply in connection with the growth of agriculture and population growth. The

danger of famine was discovered in the 20th century when an estimated 70 million died from

famine across the world. Famine was caused by various factors, including rouges, wars, and

government policies, one of the most famous examples being the Soviet famine of 1932-1933,

caused by the policies of Stalin.

In the 21st century, famine was going through a drastic downfall, with the number of annual

deaths dropping to 75,000 since 1980, which is a huge fall compared to 928,000 deaths in the

1970s. However, that accounting to other regions, the death rate was still high in specific areas,

especially Somalia, in which 150,000 lives were lost in the 2011 Somalia famine. However, the

return of famine in Africa was officially declared by the UN, with approximately 20 million

people at risk of death due to malnutrition, starvation, and water shortage in Nigeria, South

Sudan, Yemen, and in Somalia.

V. Stances of Involved Nations / Organizations

i) Nations

● United States

Currently, the United States is the biggest donator who donated $2.1bn for Sudan’s

eradication of famine. The United States also believes that Sudan’s famine is a man –

made problem, and criticizes the Sudan president Salva Kiir about the famine in

Sudan that it was caused by prolonged war and the wrong government plans, and

urges the Sudan government to fulfill a month-old pledge of if a unilateral truce by

ordering his troops back to their barracks.

● United Kingdom

The United Kingdom responded to the declaration of famine by ￡100m of new

money, which is already available for the people of the country. The UK’s

Department for International Development (DFID), in February 22nd, 2017, released

a statement that they would provide the necessary humanitarian support for South

Sudan.

● South Sudan

The Sudan government is said to have the most responsibility for the famine in South

Sudan. South Sudan, though it has been declared by the UN as a famine country due

to its prolonged war and drought, is still buying arms from elsewhere. Days after the

declaration of famine, the government raised a price of a business visa, aimed at aid

workers, with the purpose of increasing government revenue. President Salva Kirr

has also been accused of blocking food deliveries to somewhere else.

ii) Organizations

● The United Nations

Several UN agencies and other relief agencies have intensified their efforts to send

aid to South Sudan, especially by reaching four million people with 265,000 metric

tons of food assistance and $13.8 million of cash assistance. The UN Child’s Fund

Deputy Executive Director and UN Assistant Secretary General have stated that

“Nobody should be dying of starvation in 2017.” The UN also shows great interest

towards the issue of Child Malnutrition, and provides food and education annually.

● UNICEF

UNICEF has 620 feeding centers for severely malnourished children, and has stated

that they were unable to reach several regions, which are places where the most child

deaths happen. The UNICEF has warned that more than 1 million children in South

Sudan are subjected to malnutrition.

VI. Future Outlook

As famine continues as a continuous issue in the international society, especially in countries of

Africa, the main causes of famine still lie as unsolved cases. There are three main causes of

famine, including conflict, climate change, and the lack of help from supporting countries.

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Conflict includes cases of war, political problems, etc. When a government of a nation is

engaged in war, whether civil or with another nation, the funding for some sectors including

funding for agricultural development or humanitarian help for the poor are usually diverted to

military expenditure, leaving the general population and citizens extremely vulnerable to cases of

natural disasters or the effects of conflict on agricultural production. Natural disasters such as

draught of crop failure can be crucial causes for famine, especially in countries relying on

agricultural production.

Climate change can also cause a lot of negative influence on food production, resulting in

widespread famine and food insecurity. Increased rainfall, the change of temperature, and other

climate changes out of the norm can cause serious damage on the year’s crop yields, increasing

the dangers of famine.

The political and financial problems within the donor countries and supporting countries can also

be a cause for famine in the third world. Due to the nations own financial and political problems

to focus on, donor countries can fail to give aid to prevent famine. According to the Guardian,

Famine Early Warning Systems and the Food Security Nutrition Analysis Unit predicted the 2011

famine in Somalia, and had the international community responded in time without any problems

in their own systems, a million/4 of the death rates could have been diminished.

VII. Possible Solutions

First and foremost, the solutions to save children and women from famine should be focused on

spreading awareness and sending possible ways of help to nations declared as famine countries.

Knowledge regarding the effects of famine of the general public can result in a sensation, ending

famine as a result. Possible solutions should also include humanitarian aid to regions where

famine hits the strongest. Aid in the form of basic necessities and financial aid should be sent to

such regions to free the regions with famine from hunger and suffering. The children and

women, the most likely to be effected by famine, should also be taken into regard. Forms of

public education to empower women should be initiated, warning women about unplanned

pregnancies, food sanitation and various others in order to reduce the death rates of women as a

whole. Such forms of education would also be an effective way of reducing the rated of

unplanned childbirth, effectively reducing the number of children who should be fed. Children

should also be taken under strict healthcare, possibly provided by donor countries. Possible

solutions of the effects caused by famine should focus on saving as much lives as possible,

especially women and children.

VIII. Conclusion

Delegates should keep in mind that the famine problem does not affect only the famine countries

themselves but the international society as a whole. The agricultural system of the world would

be damaged without the agricultural production of these countries, including African countries

where majority of their population have agriculture – related careers, which would be a crucial

problem to the food industry of the international society.

Delegates should also focus on the possible solutions of famine to enhance the health and

livelihood of the people in famine countries, focusing on solutions to give humanitarian aids to

regions with serious famine, and solutions to provide education and healthcare facilities to

educate people about the dangers of famine, unplanned birth, and malnutrition in order to enable

the general population to aid themselves in dire situations.

Member states with direct or indirect connection to the agenda should strive to come to a viable

resolution, and should consider what can be done by NGOs and nations in the international

society, and should furthermore consider what roles organizations such as the United Nations and

UNICEF can play while participating in the conference.

IX. Questions to Consider

Though a lot of organizations and countries are trying to solve the problem upon the increasing

rates of death caused by famine, it still didn’t reach to its end. There are few questions that the

members of WHO should consider in order to make national stances and resolutions.

● What kind of assistance would be the most helpful in solving the issue?

● What makes children and women so vulnerable to diseases caused by

famine?

● What kind of organizations can send direct help to the people suffering from

famine?

● What kind of systems should the governments of famine countries in order to

lessen the consequences of crop failure and natural happenings that damage

the year’s production?

● What is the most crucial cause of famine?

X. Bibliography

Somalia Famine: Disaster Response needs better science communication

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/jul/26/somalia-famine-disaster-

communication

3 Causes of Famine in Africa

https://borgenproject.org/3-causes-of-famine-in-africa/

Famine – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine

Famine and Food crises

https://www.unicefusa.org/mission/emergencies/food-crises

Agenda2: Devising methods to ensure food Sanitation

I. Agenda Introduction

Foodborne disease outbreak refers to multiple people get same illness form the same food or

drink. In 2017, CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu

infection in the US. 47 people infected with the outbreak strain or Salonella Kiambu have been

reported form 12 states. The Cause of it was the pool quality of food sanitation.

Ensuring that people have access to adequate nutrient- food and safe water is essential for

protecting the safety, health and well-being for people in the world. It is key to sustaining life

and promoting good health. Ensuring food sanitation is remarkably important because unsafe

food, which contains bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances, causes more than 200

diseases include cancers. Currently, about 600 million people are having health trouble after

consuming contaminated food and 420,000 die every year. It results the loss of 33 million

healthy life years. Moreover, Children under 5 carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden with

125,000 deaths every year. Many organizations include but not limit to WHO, the Food and

Agricultural Organization (FAO), The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), admit the fact that

providing safe food to people potential because lacking of nutrient to children can results in

delayed childhood development and cause irreparable damage to all. Furthermore, insufficient

amount of essential nutrient is vital to maintaining the immune system of one.

Followings are the lists published by WHO for ensuring food safety:

1. Prevent contaminating food with pathogens spreading from people, pets, and pests.

2. Separate raw and cooked foods to prevent contaminating the cooked foods.

3. Cook foods for the appropriate length of time and at the appropriate temperature to kill

pathogens.

4. Store food at the proper temperature.

5. Do use safe water and safe raw materials.

• Definition of key terms.

1. Food Sanitation

The most concise definition for food sanitation is protection form contamination. The term food

sanitation usually describes the freshness, quality, and level of harmful bacteria of the food. In

order to ensure sanitation of the food, people need to raise awareness of hygiene of the food and

the market environment.

2. Contamination

A food contains harmful bacteria and microorganism which are able to cause negative effect such

illness and disease, we call it food contamination. It occurs by inappropriate handling, preparing,

and storing of the food. Furthermore, usage of food form unapproved source also can be factor of

the food contamination. I

3. Communicable Diseases

A disease can spread form one to other people calls communicable disease. A lot of foodborne

disease can be one example of communicable disease. It can spread by air, physical contact or

consuming contaminated subjected such as rotten food. Protection form it is maintaining clean

environment.

4. Hygienic practices

Hygienic practice means every action that people take for maintaining sanitary condition of such

as but not limited to physical body, environment, food, and tools. Common example of hygienic

practice can be washing hand before a meal. Not only directly removing harmful substances,

education and raising awareness also can be part of hygienic practices.

5. Foodborne disease

It refer to any illness occurs after consuming

contaminated food. According to WHO, it is one of

the growing public health problem. Not only

contaminated food the disease, pollution of water,

soil, and air can results it.

• Urgency & importance of Agenda

The World Health Organization estimated that there are about 2 million deaths caused by

consuming contaminated food and water. Also, over 200 diseases can be caused by eating unsafe

food which contains harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, chemical substances. Uncountable

numbers of children especially in LEDCs(Less Economically Developed Countries) are having

hard time to overcome the situation.

Even MEDCs (More Economically Developed Countries) such as USA, UK, and France has the

problem of food sanitation. Although majority of Food sanitation happens in LECDs and groups

of refugees, it is a worldwide issue. Pointing out the fact that food sanitation is fundamental for

ensuring healthy body condition for all.

To repeat, food sanitation is extremely important for all of nations. Pool quality of the food

causes numerous diseases including foodborne disease. Toxic bacteria, parasite, and fungus

trigger deadly illness to human body.

In 2015, the UN adopted 2030 Development Agenda, transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda

for Sustainable Development (SDG), for improvement of global society. Especially, the third

goal titled as Good Health and Well-being highlights the important of food sanitation.

II. Status Quo

Currently, the WHO create World Health day for raising awareness for alarming the importance

of food sanitation. Main element of the World Health day is promoting action and practice to

ensure the safety of the food and protect our body and environment form any harmful substance.

The WHO publishes a lot of article about the food sanitation and providing educations to the

people in rural countries. What is more, the WHO department Food Safety and Zoonoses(FOS)

is working on the campaign for improving quality of food safety worldwide.

In 2013, there was an educational programme supported by WHO, working in collaboration with

El Salvador’s government and other United Nations partner Organizations: the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF,

UNWomen, and the World Food Programme (WFP). A lot of people joined it and it was fruitful

to all.

Also, multiple nations had creates their own Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for maintaining

national guild line of food for their citizens.

III. History

Followings are concise timeline of food safety from 1993 to 2011.

● Jan. 1993 – E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at Jack in the Box

● Feb. 1993 – “Assay for motile facultative anaerobic pathogens” patent

● 1995-1996 – Creation of several food safety networks

● Jan. 2002 – HACCP rules for juice

● Aug.-Oct. 2011 – Multistate outbreak of listeriosis in whole cantaloupes

History of food safety can go back to very accident time when human just found out how to use

smoke and salt to preserve surpluses. During modern society, people started to focus on stopping

outbreak of foodborne diseases and ensuring appropriate quality of the food and its sanitation.

With continuous efforts of nations and individuals, there was a dramatic reduction of deaths

caused by foodborne illness between 19th century to now.

IV. Stances of Involve Nations / Organizations

1. WHO

WHO sets the goal to facilitate global prevention, detection and response to public health threats

associated with unsafe food. Job of WHO includes ensuring consumer trust in their authorities,

and confidence in the safe food supply. WHO helps Member States build capacity to prevent,

detect and manage foodborne risks by multiple methods.

2. FAO

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States) created

by UN for ensuring the appropriate practices of food and agricultural

performances. It also created International Food Safety Authorities

Network (INFOSAN) with WHO for ensuring rapid sharing of

information during food safety emergencies to stop the spread of contaminated food from one

country to another.

3. UNHCR

The UN Refuge Agency mainly focuses on ensuring food security and

safety for the refugees. Since the refugees are people having hard time

because of push factors of home country, they are hardly access to high

qualities of the food. One of the aims of UNHCR is making sure all

people, including refugee, have a good source of food to maintain

healthy condition.

4. Japan

Japan, since 1947, has strived for its citizens' health by enforcing the Food Sanitation Act( Act

No. 233, of December 24, 1947) in order to prevent sanitation hazards by ensuring food safety.

It has established health centers and special wards specially designed so as to conduct immediate

measures concerning food sanitation. Japan has openly advocated the enforcement of regulations

regarding food sanitation since 1947, striving to establish technical and medical facilities in the

states of Japan.

5. STOP foodborne illness

STOP Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to the

prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens. It works on advocating for sound

public policy, building public awareness, and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.

6. Pakistan

Pakistan is a country without framework of food sanitation policy. People of Pakistan have pool

access the safe food because of the wars. To be more specific, there are a sets of law of ensuring

sanitation but it remain poorly enforced.

7. France

France has their own law and policy for protecting their citizen from unsafe food. Agence

nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (anses) is a

French governmental agency dealing with food safety.

V. Future Outlook

Involvement of multiple nations and organization results in reduction of outbreaks of foodborne

disease in many LEDCs countries. The SDGs set by UN also looking for further practices and

global cooperation between each related organizations and individuals. Hopefully, educations of

food sanitation will be necessary to most of the nations with continuous campaigns and project.

VI. Possible Solutions

Providing further education for people in LEDCs in Africa and Asia is essential. One of the

major reasons is lack of knowledge regarding to the information of food safety. This solution

also can make connection to the problem of woman education. There are some countries force

woman to not to study but only working. Therefore, those women who have no access to

education of health can be exposure herself and her family members to foodborne diseases.

In addition, setting appropriate and strict regulation for food handing and food sanitation is the

primary that nations have to consider for ensuring food safety. WHO and FAO already made an

guild line for the regulation. Therefore countries such as China, India, and Pakistan should

upgrade and improve their national policy of food sanitation as soon as possible.

VII. Conclusion

Nowadays, the development of the technology provided a lot of help to the people. With the high

tech, people can save their food safety without problem of possible of harmful disease. However,

we have to admit that there are many people need help because they are live in poor environment

where having no access to safe foods. People in the world need to cooperate with one another for

solving the problems. There are a host of deaths in the world because of unsafe food. UNOs such

as but not limited to WHO, FAO are working their best to solve the situation by providing

various method to ensure the food sanitation.

Delegates should consider the best way to ensuring and promoting importance of food safety

among all nations. Furthermore, nations have to aware about the fact that situations of each

nation are so different that nations need to cooperate with each other for working harmoniously.

VIII. Questions to Consider

Though a lot of organizations and countries are trying to solve the problem uponfood safety

hazards, it still didn’t reach to its end. There are few questions that the member of WHO should

consider in order to make national stances and resolutions.

◆ What laws can be enforced to ensure immediate medical and technical action

and treatment for food contamination?

◆ What kind of methods can be used to promote food safety to the deneral public?

◆ What kind of methods can be used to raise food safety awareness and to educate

the public about the effects of food contamination?

◆ What kind of facilities are needed for the solving of consequences of food safety

hazards?

◆ What kind of agricultural and marketing systems most damage food hygiene?

◆ What are the most crucial issues to be solved in this agenda?

IX. Bibliography

“10 Facts on Food Safety.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,

www.who.int/features/factfiles/food_safety/en/.

Donald, Tim. “20 Years in Food Safety: A Look Back and Beyond.” Food Quality & Safety, 5

June 2013, www.foodqualityandsafety.com/article/20-years-in-food-safety-a-look-back-and-

beyond/.

“El Salvador: Women Spread the Word on Food Safety.” WHO, World Health Organization,

www.who.int/features/2015/el-salvador-food-safety/en/.

“Food Hygiene.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/

foodsafety/areas_work/food-hygiene/en/.

“FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY AT FAO.” Food Safety and Quality: Food Safety & Quality,

www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/home-page/en/.

“Food Safety.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/

mediacentre/factsheets/fs399/en/.

UNDP. “Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.” UNDP, www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/

sustainable-development-goals/goal-3-good-health-and-well-being.html.

UNDP. “Sustainable Development Goals.” UNDP, www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/

sustainable-development-goals.html.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “Nutrition and Food Security.” UNHCR,

www.unhcr.org/nutrition-and-food-security.html.

“World Health Day 2015: Food Safety.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,

www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2015/en/.