FAO appeals for the rebuilding of Asian agriculture
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation has launched an appeal for $26 million, to help rebuild
Fisheries and aquaculture are the most seriously affected sectors, with boats and fishing gear lost and fish farms damaged beyond repair. The UN also says livestock have been killed and crops washed away or are dying due to saltwater floods. The aid package will include seeds, fertilizers, tools and other farm help, to re-establish crops, while fishermen will be provided with nets to begin small-scale fishing. Small livestock will also be required as will assistance in rehabilitating small-scale infrastructure such as irrigation schemes, animal shelters and market and storage structures.
”These communities have lost all their productive assets,” said Farnanda Guerrieri, Chief of FAO’s Emergency Operations Service. “Obviously the most pressing needs are for medical supplies, clean water, food, shelter and sanitation, but the affected communities need to restart productive activities as soon as possible so that they can feed themselves and to avoid mass migration of the displaced to already overpopulated cities.”
Agronomists have already been sent to affected countries and FAO has technical staff working in most. So far FAO has helped the governments involved assess the damage and it is currently joining in the relief efforts.
