The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, yesterday ratified Spain’s support for the World Food Programme (WFP), after visiting the UN agency’s logistical base in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Speaking to the media, Albares said: “Spain’s commitment to the WFP and to the fight against food insecurity is demonstrated by this base and the financial support we are giving, which amounts to almost 8 million euros over the course of 2022″.
At the same time, the minister announced that the government is preparing a “more robust” financial package to fight food insecurity, and recalled that Spain has been a member of the advisory council since 2019 and will remain so until 2024.
Albares referred to the crisis due to the lack of grain from Ukraine and the increase in the price of fertilisers, which affects many countries in West Africa and the Sahel.
“Spain is going to be with the WFP and with these countries to guarantee that the famines will be alleviated,” he said, stressing that it is “fortunate” that the World Food Programme can count on a port like Las Palmas, which allows it to reach several areas of the African continent in just a few days.
On the other hand, when questioned about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) which opened this Sunday in Sharm-El Sheikh (Egypt), the minister pointed out that climate change also has consequences for harvests and hunger in the world, which is why he reiterated the importance of the role played by the WFP base in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Albares pointed out that never in history has there been such a “terrible” mix of rising temperatures, poor harvests, climate change and, at the same time, “a war that is having devastating consequences for both grain and fertiliser exports”.
In addition, the minister said that “it is clear” that behind the current food insecurity, famines and the desperation of not being able to have harvests as traditionally had in many countries, there is a push effect on populations that are desperate.
“For all these reasons, what is being done from the Port of Las Palmas, with the support of the Spanish Government, is vital. What I can guarantee is that we are not going to give up in the face of this difficulty”, he assured.
