Their well-being during these times of particular need has a bearing not only on their own future, but also on their ability to contribute to development in general. Un-met food needs early in life will lead to health problems, loss of mental vigour and reduced productivity. Food is a preventative medicine 6.6 Targeted actions are necessary both to tackle food insufficiencies head on through interventions focused on enhancing nutrition and to enable hungry people to benefit from health, education, skills and income-earning initiatives. In this sense, food is a preventative medicine. And providing food aid to households through women further enhances its potential as a resource for human growth.
Women are central to the fight against hunger.
Aiding people to gain access to food Food aid works in partnership with market forces 6.7 The chronically hungry have a difficult task in fulfilling either their human or economic potential. Since hunger perpetuates poverty, persistent hunger must be removed if sustainable food security is to be attained. Consequently, the third priority must be food aid interventions that assist food insecure households by-passed by mainstream development activities, particularly in situations where there is insufficient food in the market and food prices are volatile. Food aid can provide direct assistance to people who lack purchasing power, and can strengthen markets by building transport infrastructure or enhancing marketing systems through local monetization and local food purchases. The hungry of the world will best be served through an enhanced partnership in the coming decades.