interview
Text: Eline Kraaijenvanger Photos: Bram Belloni
Using data models to contribute to more robust food systems in crisis areas is what the Zero Hunger Lab (ZHL) and the Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) are working on together. While Frans Cruijssen of the ZHL is looking into complicated data analyses, Gerrit-Jan van Uffelen of the WCDI is mainly concerned with the local situation
in the Horn of Africa. Together, they are striving to find a long-term solution to the food problems that exist there. And that is much needed, says Van Uffelen: “We now have the highest number ever of people in a food crisis or worse. That’s the unpleasant truth. The way we as an international community intervene in these kinds of areas falls short.” That sounds serious. Can you elaborate? Van Uffelen: “Humanitarian aid is neutral.
It helps the individual survive but makes
no judgements about the cause of the crisis. As soon as you talk about warring parties and questions of blame, you lose the ability to provide impartial aid. This is a strength of the humanitarian system, but also a weakness. It means that we give countries aid year after year, but we cannot look at the structural causes of why that emergency aid is needed.” Cruijssen: “In fact, emergency aid means you’re too late. Yes, the help is desperately needed, but in doing so you ignore the fact that you could often have made smart
“We can contribute more to a better world” Providing emergency aid to people in a food crisis is badly needed – but far better is it to try to prevent such disasters by looking at structural causes and improving food systems, say Frans Cruijssen and Gerrit-Jan van Uffelen.
