Agata-Kornhauser-Duda met with the First Lady of the USA Jill Biden at the White House. Conversation topics included, among other things, current and long-term challenges in supporting Ukrainians and food security in African countries.
The first ladies began talks about humanitarian activities for the victims of the war in Ukraine shortly after the outbreak of the conflict, in March 2022. On Wednesday, they had the opportunity to discuss the steps taken so far and think about long-term solutions.
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Strengthening of international partnership
At least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry and an estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity, according to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update. The Horn of Africa is suffering from persistent drought and countries that depend on Russia and Ukraine for wheat and sunflower oil imports have seen prices skyrocket out of reach of ordinary people. In response to these challenges, countries in Eastern and Southern Africa are implementing a range of short, medium, and long term actions with World Bank support, to cushion the blow of the current crisis on the poorest households and set African food systems on a more resilient and productive pathway. (worldbank.org)
Last week, Jill Biden visited Namibia and Kenya. She discussed the strengthening of the position of women and youth and food safety in the region. Before the war, Ukraine and Russia played a leading role in the supply of global markets with food. They provided cereal supplies to many Middle East and Africa countries. The first lady of the US described a very difficult situation in Kenya and Namibia: lack of water, food, the threat of hunger defeat caused by drought. She emphasized the need to get involved in other countries in the world in helping this region. Agata Kornhauser -Duda, who visited Senegal last year, drew attention to the problem of access to girls’ education from African countries.