Mothers First Comment on HLPE Issue Paper: Acute Food Insecurity in Conflict Settings

Written by Pat McMahon

2 September 2024

This submission from Mothers First responds to the HLPE issue paper on acute food insecurity in conflict settings, focusing on the impact of crises on maternal and child nutrition.

It highlights how pregnant women and young children are among the most affected in conflict situations, often lacking access to adequate food and healthcare during critical stages of development. Mothers First stresses that emergency food aid alone is not enough, and must be paired with longer-term, community-led nutrition support.

The commentary calls for stronger integration between humanitarian and development responses, with a focus on the first 1,000 days and the importance of prioritising maternal nutrition in food security programming. It also emphasises the role of local organisations in delivering effective, context-specific solutions.

Overall, it advocates for more nutrition-sensitive, locally driven approaches to tackling acute food insecurity in conflict-affected settings.

Read more about it here.