AMMAN - In an effort to combat hunger across the Kingdom, the Jordanian Food Bank (JFB) was officially announced on Tuesday .

The Jordanian Alliance Against Hunger (JAAH) launched the initiative which aims to link underprivileged households with donated food aid .

At the ceremony yesterday, HRH Princess Basma, chairperson of the JAAH, called for partnership between all concerned parties to support the bank, noting that “without the participation of all, nothing will be achieved ”.

The agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in combating hunger and reducing poverty, the Princess added, underscoring the need to provide underprivileged families with access to basic nourishment .

Minister of Agriculture Saeed Masri said the JFB aims to reduce hunger through collecting food items from persons and organisations and redistributing them to underprivileged families, noting that 60,000 families will benefit from the bank .

According to Chris Rebstock, vice president of the Global Food Banking Network, the aim of the initiative is to "connect resources to those in need", in cooperation with other sectors .

Mahmoud Duwairi, member of JAAH and the Global Food Banking Network, said food insecurity represents a major challenge for families that cannot cope with rising prices, resulting in poor eating habits regarding the quantity and quality of food .

During yesterday′s event, several public agencies and local community organisations signed memoranda of understanding with the JAAH, including the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Civil Service Consumer Corporation, the Jordan Food and Drug Administration and the General Association of Foodstuff Merchants .

According to Duwairi, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), the World Food Programme (WFP) and GAM are also seeking to work with the JFB .

The JAAH, in cooperation with the WFP, will establish a database on food accessibility in impoverished areas, he said, noting that the database will be used as a guideline for future activities .

During yesterday′s event, the WFP released the results of a study on the poverty level within the Kingdom .

The survey, which covered 3,000 families in 20 poverty pockets across the Kingdom, indicated that poverty rates range from 27 per cent to 74 per cent in certain areas .

Meanwhile the Princess, who heads the JAAH, a non-profit organisation founded in 2004 as a member of the International Alliance Against Hunger, commended national, regional and international organisations for supporting the JFB.