UN battles extremism with food

The United Nations argues that fighting extremism doesn't have to
involve armed conflict.

The UN's World Food Programme says it has a radical, yet simple solution: food.

It's using food aid as a way to wage war on extremism - distributing
it to vulnerable, desperate people who are often the main targets for
terrorist recruiters.

But with less than 45% of UN appeals funded this year, it could find
it increasingly harder to combat extremism.

Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York.

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TAKE VO
Fighting extremism, not with weapons but with food. The World Food
Program says it's on the frontline of the battle against terrorism, in
a race to get food to the world's most vulnerable before insurgents
do. Here's the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme,
David Beasley.

SOT - David Beasley, Executive Director, UN World Food Programme: "It
is the most effective program out there, dollar for dollar, for
fighting extremism…..because if a mum and dad can't feed their
children after a week or two….and the only place you can feed your
little girl is turn to the only available source out there, you go do
it. And we're seeing it, we're seeing it left and right."

TAKE VO
Studies have shown militant groups position themselves as social
service providers to help recruitment.
Hamas and Hezbollah use that approach. Security Expert at Mosaic Tony
Schiena says that makes food a simple but effective tool.

SOT - Tony Schiena, Security Expert, Mosaic: "If you can't feed
yourself or feed your family you'll go to extreme measure. And if
ISIS, or al Qaeda, or Boko Haram is dangling a banana in front of you,
you're going to take it. It's a necessity."

TAKE VO
But while food insecurity can create fertile ground for extremism to
flourish, some say it's only part of the problem.
And that marginalization is often a greater motivating factor for
joining militant groups. Ozonnia Ojielo is from the United Nations
Development Program

SOT - Ozonnia Ojielo, United Nations Development Program: "If people
feel that their food insecurity is as a result of action to deny them
opportunity or inclusion, then they might begin to take up arms
against their state, against their fellow countrymen. So we need to
understand what is the 'additionality' that pushes people too get over
the cliff as it were, and become violent extremists."

TAKE VO
The WFP argues its work is vital in helping international security.
It's therefore concerned by the Trump administration's plans to cut
American funding to the UN, feeling it has the potential to hurt US
national security.
TAKE VO
The new head of WFP, David Beasley, is a former Republican governor.
But he's now going against the prevailing mood of his party. And he's
asking the US Congress to increase, rather than cut funding to
specifically help famine threatened countries like South Sudan,
Somalia and Nigeria.

SOC

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