THE National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Davao will hold a Peace Fair and Conference on September 21 as a means to support the peace-building agenda of the current administration.
NNC-Davao regional program coordinator Dr. Maria Teresa Ungson, in an interview, said there is a need to discuss the current peace-building initiatives of various government and non-government agencies in the country to assess whether the initiatives also address the hunger issues on conflict-torn areas in Mindanao, particularly Marawi City.
"When there is chaos or emergency, hunger is present," Ungson said.
With the recent visit of NNC-Davao to selected evacuation centers outside Marawi City, Ungson said the council saw that the nutrition of the evacuees was greatly affected by the catastrophe as some are already under nourished, especially children.
She said poor nutrition could also lead to lawless behaviors as a person's consciousness is affected due to lack of nourishment.
"If we are developing many industries in our country now, we also have to develop how to strengthen the nutrition of the citizens especially during calamities," she said.
The Peace Fair and Conference, Ungson said, will be held at Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City and will be attended by speakers from different government and non-government agencies who will discuss their planned peace-building actions.
On September 24, she added that NNC-Davao will also hold a Peace Run along Claro M. Recto Avenue to Abreeza Ayala Mall. All proceeds of the event will be donated to Marawi evacuees.