S/PV.10045 Security Council

Before each member is a list of speakers who have requested to participate, in accordance with rules 37 and 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. We propose that they be invited to participate in this meeting. There being no objection, it is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/688, which contains a letter dated 28 October 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. I warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, to whom I now give the floor.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate. I commend the Republic of Sierra Leone for placing conflict-related food insecurity squarely where it belongs: at the centre of the Security Council’s agenda. Sierra Leone brings profound understanding to this debate. When one has lived through conflict’s devastation, one knows with absolute clarity that war destroys more than infrastructure — it destroys the ability to feed one’s children and communities. War and hunger are often two faces of the same crisis. They are a lived reality for hundreds of millions trapped in conflict zones, which bears this out with brutal clarity. Bullets and bombs obliterate the fields where food grows, the markets where people trade, the roads that connect farmers to families. And hunger strikes back with equal force — empty bellies fuel desperation, desperation fuels displacement and violence, and the result is instability and often the destruction of the very systems that produce food. The Council’s mandate is the maintenance of international peace and security, and there can be neither peace where people are starving nor security where hunger drives conflict. The evidence is irrefutable. Armed conflict drives acute food insecurity in 14 of the 16 hunger hotspots worldwide. Last year, 295 million people faced acute hunger — 14 million more than the year before. The number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger has more than doubled to 1.9 million. In the Sudan — the world’s largest hunger crisis — violence is perpetuating famine across Darfur and Kordofan. In Gaza, where famine was confirmed in August, the situation remains severe. Across Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, millions remain trapped in a vicious cycle of hunger and conflict. Borders offer no protection from these consequences. We live in an interconnected world, where conflict in one region sends shock waves across continents. The war in Europe disrupted grain exports, triggering food crises across Africa, Latin America Food itself has become a weapon through deliberate starvation tactics, which we are seeing all too often, including recently in Gaza, but also through the systematic destruction of agricultural systems, through blockades that strangle supply and through the calculated disruption of trade flows that leaves entire regions vulnerable. The mechanics are devastating and a violation of international humanitarian law. Arms are looted and wells are poisoned. Grain stores are burned and processing facilities destroyed. Roads that connect farmers to markets are blocked, nomadic communities disrupted, as livestock is rustled and often destroyed. The infrastructure that makes food systems work is targeted. And, in a spiral of death, we continue to invest in military expenditure rather than putting an end to hunger. The world’s total military expenditure over the past decade is estimated at $21.9 trillion, yet ending hunger by 2030 would cost us much less: $93 billion a year. Then there is climate change, accelerating this crisis with deadly force. Floods wash away harvests, droughts turn fields into dust, and rising temperatures devastate grazing lands. The predictable seasons on which farmers relied for millennia are also disrupted. Many of the countries most vulnerable to climate stand in the shadow of conflict, and this is not a coincidence. I saw this first-hand, as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment. When Lake Chad began drying up, what we faced was never just an ecological or economic crisis; it was one of governance and security that helped to give rise to Boko Haram. When population growth and urban sprawl intensified tensions between farmers and herders over shrinking resources, the issue was never simply about water access; it was about food systems under stress and communities pushed to the breaking point. When I met girls walking each day to fetch water and missing school in the process, it became clear to me that the challenge went far beyond resources. It touched gender inequality, education and the future of entire communities, putting the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at risk. We cannot and must not accept these examples as the new normal. The hunger- conflict nexus is a strategic and existential threat, and the Council must treat it as such. We need four actions. First, humanitarian aid must flow, ceasefires must hold, and international humanitarian law must be upheld. The obstructions, delays and excuses that have characterized too many conflicts must end. We see the consequences in the Sudan and in Gaza, where humanitarian access remains severely restricted, even as famine takes hold. Food systems, which should sustain civilian populations, have become battlegrounds. Humanitarian workers must reach people in need, and food systems must be protected as the civilian infrastructure they represent — farms, markets, transport routes and storage facilities — serves as a lifeline rather than a legitimate target. Resolutions 2417 (2018) and 2573 (2021), which this body adopted, give us the framework by condemning starvation as a method of warfare, demanding the protection of civilians and requiring unimpeded humanitarian access. Years later, crises are more devastating than ever. What we need is enforcement. That means broadening engagement beyond Governments to include civil society organizations that witness conditions on the ground, regional actors that understand local dynamics and national partners that possess the leverage the international community often lacks. We must work with all of them to drive implementation and demand accountability for violations. Ceasefires and humanitarian pauses serve as strategic necessities for protecting the food systems on which people depend. When parties facilitate access instead Secondly, the path from fragility to resilience runs through sustainable food systems. Building them requires a fundamental shift from short-term relief to long- term transformation and from emergency response to strategic investment, as I recently reinforced in the call to action that came out of the United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment, in Ethiopia. Achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals demands this transformation, and we cannot end hunger, build resilient communities or secure peace without it. While hunger fuels violence and displacement, resilient systems can break that cycle. When smallholder farmers thrive, local economies grow. When food systems connect to health, education and social protection, they become a foundation for stability. This means strengthening local markets so that communities can access affordable nutritious food, building storage facilities that protect harvests, processing infrastructure that adds value and ensuring that women and young people have ownership and decision-making power over the systems that feed their families and communities. The African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme framework, renewed just this year through the Kampala Declaration, demonstrates this commitment in action, with African countries pledging to increase agrifood by 45 per cent and triple intra-African trade, while building climate resilience. Thirdly, climate action stands as an essential pillar of both food security and peace. As the Secretary-General told world leaders at the thirtieth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, keeping temperatures below 1.5°C is slipping from our grasp. Even a brief overshoot risks pushing natural systems past the point of no return, exposing billions to worsening hunger, while intensifying the very threats to peace and security that the Council is charged with preventing. Ensuring early warning systems reach every person is also non-negotiable. We must deliver adaptation finance at scale so that communities can manage resources, build resilience and prevent climate stress from igniting conflict. When farmers have drought-resistant seeds and water management systems, when communities have the tools to adapt, they can weather shocks, instead of breaking under them. Investing in climate adaptation today prevents hunger tomorrow. Fourthly, peace is the only sustainable solution. Humanitarian action saves lives today, but it cannot end war. Only political solutions can do that. Achieving lasting peace requires treating food, agriculture and humanitarian access as strategic imperatives. That means Governments, donors and implementers working across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to tackle root causes of conflict, not just their symptoms. Prevention demands early investment. If we wait for famine declarations in order to mobilize resources, we have already failed. People have already died, and early action saves lives, protects livelihoods and costs far less than crisis response. But prevention also requires addressing exclusion, inequality and the systemic absence of State services, which create conditions for conflict. When Governments cannot deliver basic services, when marginalization deepens, when people lose hope, grievances multiply and food insecurity becomes one more accelerant on the fire. This is where the nexus approach becomes essential. We cannot address food security without addressing the root causes of conflict. We cannot build peace without ensuring people can feed themselves, and we cannot achieve sustainable development without tackling both at the same time. As an old East African proverb teaches us, when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Today, that grass — the innocent civilians around the world, in the Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and so many

I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. Ms. Msuya: I thank His Excellency President Bio for this opportunity to speak on the critical issue of conflict-induced hunger. The evidence from the latest Hunger Hotspots report from the Global Network Against Food Crises is clear: the world’s most extreme food crises, including the famines in parts of the Gaza Strip and the Sudan, are driven primarily by armed conflict and violence. In South Sudan, the risk of famine persists in some counties affected by localized violence. The more intense the violence, the worse the food insecurity. Attacks harming civilians and civilian infrastructure leave fields abandoned, disrupt food supply chains, drive up prices and destroy livelihoods. In Yemen, where 17 million people are going hungry and another 1 million are forecast to do so, damage to infrastructure has impeded imports, and ongoing conflict is displacing people and exacerbating economic decline, while extreme humanitarian access constraints and insecurity limit aid delivery in critical parts of the country. In the Syrian Arab Republic, agricultural production has been severely affected by damaged infrastructure, restricted access to farmland due to explosive ordnance and high levels of displacement. Hunger is exposing people to greater risks of sexual exploitation and abuse and forced displacement as people struggle simply to feed themselves. Women are especially affected, often going without food to prioritize their families. In armed conflicts, international humanitarian law is clear: civilians and civilian objects must be protected. The use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited. So is attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to civilian survival. Resolution 2417 (2018) reinforces these obligations. And in situations of violence in which the rules of war do not apply, international human rights law and minimum humanitarian standards play an equally vital role in preventing and addressing hunger. Humanitarian action is also essential to prevent and address hunger in conflict. When humanitarian access is denied, hunger and malnutrition rise, often with devastating consequences for civilians. Conflict parties must allow the rapid and unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian relief and ensure that humanitarians have the freedom of movement needed to carry out their work. Resolution 2417 (2018), in addition to resolution 2730 (2024), adopted last year, reiterate these duties. One month into the ceasefire in Gaza, the United Nations and its partners are seizing every opening to save lives. Millions of meals have been provided. Nutrition sites have reopened, and some medical services have resumed, among other progress. But access is still restricted by limits at border crossings, delays to aid convoys and bureaucratic impediments that slow the entry of vital supplies and, in some cases, of staff. In the Sudan, conflict has shattered food systems and displaced millions. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, more than 21 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity — the largest The United Nations, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, works relentlessly to secure humanitarian access. We negotiate with parties to conflict, operate notification systems to inform armed actors about humanitarian movements and coordinate responders on the ground. But these tools can only work if parties are committed to facilitating access and aid operations. The record number of attacks harming aid workers over the past two years and the knock-on effect on communities’ access to relief are appalling. I call on States to condemn these attacks and push for consistent, credible investigations in every context. Reducing bureaucratic hurdles also facilitates access, simplifying entry procedures for humanitarian staff, speeding up permits for relief supplies and enabling safe movement. Clearance of unexploded ordnance is another practical enabler, allowing aid to reach people safely and helping farmers return to their land. And humanitarian funding remains essential to sustain operations. Finally, without political will, even the best coordination, negotiation and funding will fall short. Preventing and ending hunger is not simply a logistical or financial challenge; it demands sustained political engagement. I want to propose four areas of action for the Council and the States Members of the United Nations. First, they should use their leverage to address hunger in conflict. This means sustained political dialogue and diplomatic engagement and using tools at their disposal to influence parties. As part of that, making compliance with international law a condition for arms exports is essential. Secondly, strong policies and practices should be adopted to protect civilians. Alongside implementing their legal obligations, we encourage Member States to join commitments, such as the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, and to turn those commitments into real action. Thirdly, humanitarian action should be facilitated by simplifying bureaucratic procedures and ensuring that humanitarians can engage all parties. Resolution 2730 (2024) on the protection of aid workers should be implemented, including the practical steps outlined by the Secretary-General. Fourthly, accountability should be strengthened. Investigations should be demanded and supported, legislation should be adopted to prosecute war crimes, inter-State cooperation should be enhanced, and, where competent national authorities are unable or unwilling to act, international jurisdictions should be supported.

I thank Ms. Msuya for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Máximo Torero, Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Mr. Torero: At the outset, I wish to thank His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone for convening this timely and important open debate on conflict-related food insecurity addressing food insecurity as a driver and consequence of conflict, and for inviting the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to contribute to the discussion. Around the world, nearly 673 million people still go to bed hungry. In Africa, 307 million men, women and children lack sufficient food. In Asia, the number rises to 323 million, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, 34 million face undernourishment. These are not abstract statistics. They represent children whose Food insecurity is no longer just a humanitarian challenge; it is a matter of global peace and security. When families cannot afford to eat, social contracts weaken. When farmers lose their crops to droughts or floods and conflicts or wars, local markets falter, and tensions flare. When international food prices spike, or price volatility becomes excessive, protests erupt in cities from Port-au-Prince to Cairo, and rigorous empirical research confirms this: higher global food prices and excessive volatility are directly associated with more social unrest events, with the strongest effects in poorer countries and urban settings. For more than two decades, the FAO, together with its partners, has been at the forefront of global efforts to shape evidence-based responses to food insecurity, particularly in the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected settings. It is in this context and given the need to have neutral assessments and data that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) was first developed by FAO in 2004 in Somalia. At the time, the need for a robust, consensus-driven and actionable food security measurement tool was clear — humanitarian actors required reliable information to guide an effective response in a complex and volatile environment. What began as a country-specific tool has since evolved into a global standard, serving as a common currency for food security and nutrition analysis in emergency contexts. The IPC now provides comparable findings in more than 30 countries, many of which are facing the world’s most severe food crises, such as Gaza, South Sudan, the Sudan and Yemen. When combined with the Cadre Harmonisé, a similar analytical framework used in 17 countries across West Africa and the Sahel, their combined coverage extended to nearly 50 countries globally. Designed to generate actionable knowledge in difficult contexts, these tools collectively inform more than $6 billion in humanitarian assistance each year, guiding strategic decisions and resource allocation in some of the most complex and high-risk environments. Today the IPC global initiative, hosted by the FAO, brings together 21 international and intergovernmental institutions, including United Nations agencies, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These partners work collectively to ensure the technical quality, neutrality and comparability of food security and nutrition analysis in the emergency contexts in which they are applied. How does this work? Based on careful analysis of all available information, the IPC framework assigns geographic areas into one of five phases of acute food insecurity and of acute malnutrition based on the most severe conditions faced by at least 20 per cent of the population. Phase 1 corresponds to minimal or no food insecurity, while phase 5, famine, is the most extreme category, indicating catastrophic conditions marked by starvation, destitution, extreme levels of acute malnutrition and elevated mortality. The IPC is now the primary mechanism for the international community to determine whether famine is happening or projected to occur in a country. The IPC process ensures the highest quality and neutrality of food insecurity classifications through a rigorous, standardized system built on the cross-validation of multiple data sources and expert technical consensus. All evidence used must meet strict IPC methodological criteria, and datasets are systematically triangulated, combining food security, nutrition, livelihoods and market and climate indicators, to confirm consistency and reliability. A multi-agency team of government specialists, FAO, World Food Programme, UNICEF, NGOs and independent experts jointly reviews and validates the evidence, ensuring that the classifications reflect a convergence of robust, independently verified information. Finally, regional and global IPC quality assurance teams conduct an additional layer of review before the results are released, When an IPC analysis in a country indicates a situation of famine, an ad hoc dedicated procedure is triggered to rigorously assess the plausibility of the conclusion. At this stage, the Famine Review Committee (FRC) is convened. This is a group of highly respected, independent experts in food security, nutrition and public health. The FRC’s role is to examine the available evidence, debate the findings and ensure that the analysis meets the highest standards of technical rigour, integrity and neutrality. Only after this review is a famine classification confirmed and communicated. This process is essential to maintaining trust in IPC results, especially in politically sensitive environments. In the current context of escalating conflict and fragility and shrinking humanitarian funding that drives geographic and sectoral prioritization, the IPC is more critical than ever and must not only be supported but protected as a cornerstone of evidence-based decision-making. Just in the past year, the Famine Review Committee has confirmed famine on several separate occasions: twice in the Sudan in December 2024 and November 2025 and once in Gaza in August 2025. This marks the first time that famine driven by conflict has been confirmed more than once in a single year. When famine is confirmed, the IPC provides the critical evidence that decision-makers need to act. Alongside its findings, the Famine Review Committee issues a set of targeted recommendations addressed to key stakeholders. These include recommended action for senior decision-makers and resource partners, which must be considered for swift implementation through existing humanitarian and diplomatic mechanisms. But we can all agree that waiting for famine to happen to take decisive action is far too late. In both the Sudan and Gaza, the IPC had already issued early warning signals, calling for immediate action to prevent the worst outcomes. These warnings were delivered in two ways: first, by projecting or forecasting famine within a defined future period based on the most likely scenario, and secondly, by issuing risk of famine statements grounded in alternative worst- case scenarios. These warnings offered a critical window of opportunity — first, for humanitarian diplomacy to secure access to affected populations, and secondly, to respond to critical needs before conditions deteriorated further. The IPC is not just a technical tool — it is a lifeline for the millions of people living on the front lines of conflict and hunger. It provides the international community with the clarity and credibility needed to act decisively, especially in the most complex environments. The recent confirmations of famine are stark reminders that conflict continues to drive food insecurity and malnutrition to catastrophic levels. The lesson is clear: where there is hunger, there will be unrest. Where there is resilience, there can be peace. Global leaders must treat food security as a peace dividend and not an afterthought. If we are serious about preventing conflict, we must be serious about ensuring that every person in every country has access to affordable, nutritious and healthy food. Food security is not only a moral imperative — it is the most practical path to peace.

I thank Mr. Torero for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Ibrahim Mayaki, African Union Envoy for Food Systems. Mr. Mayaki: I am grateful for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the escalating food and nutrition crisis across Africa, but I would like to start by mentioning the fact that Sierra Leone is one of the best examples that we have of food systems transformation on the continent. Africa has become the epicentre of global hunger, with 20.4 per cent of its population food insecure — twice the global average. By 2030, more than half of the world’s hungry will reside on the continent. The Global Report on Food Crises cites 295 million acutely food-insecure people across 53 countries, nearly half driven by conflict. This marks the sixth year of rising hunger, fuelled by conflict, climate shocks, economic fragility and systemic vulnerabilities. The Sudan faces one of Africa’s gravest food emergencies: 25.6 million people, 54 per cent of the population, are acutely food insecure. More than 8 million are in phase 4, emergency, and 800,000 are in phase 5, famine, marking the Sudan’s first confirmed famine. The crisis is driving mass displacement into Chad, South Sudan and the Horn of Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 25.6 million people were acutely food insecure in 2024, with conditions worsening. Violence in the east has destroyed farms and displaced millions. The crisis costs an estimated $8 billion annually in lost productivity and weakened human capital, threatening stability across the Great Lakes. The Sahel is experiencing its worst food crisis on record. Nigeria now has 31.8 million acutely food-insecure people, with 6.9 million newly affected. Chad’s caseload rose 47 per cent owing to conflict, floods and inflation. Chronic malnutrition costs Sahelian economies 2-3 per cent of their gross domestic product annually, eroding State capacity and reinforcing fragility. Climate and economic shocks are deepening the crisis. Africa has lost 34 per cent of agricultural productivity since 1961 and suffers 35 per cent of global deaths from extreme weather, yet only 40 per cent of Africans have access to early warning systems. Meanwhile, humanitarian funding is falling; food sector support dropped 30 per cent in 2023, with further cuts in 2024. The link between conflict and hunger in Africa is profound and mutually reinforcing. I respectfully offer three overarching priorities for the Council’s consideration. First, food systems must be protected as essential civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law. Agricultural land, water sources, markets and storage facilities must be safeguarded. At the same time, humanitarian access must be guaranteed. Localized ceasefires during planting and harvest seasons, along with the expansion of protected humanitarian corridors, are critical to sustaining food production and averting famine. Secondly, early warning and conflict prevention systems must integrate food security indicators, particularly those from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification and regional tools, to enable timely diplomatic engagement and targeted response. Emergency assistance must also be paired with long-term investment in resilient agrifood systems, with a focus on empowering women and youth, who are central to African food production. Thirdly, international financing must align with Africa’s strategic vision. The 2025 Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa, known as the Kampala Declaration, endorsed by all African Union member States, commits to increasing agrifood output by 45 per cent, tripling intra-African trade, reducing

I thank Mr. Mayaki for his statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the President of Sierra Leone. I am pleased to return to this historic Chamber, for the second time in two years during Sierra Leone’s tenure on the Council, to address an issue that tests our shared humanity and global stability: conflict-related food insecurity. Last year, we discussed reforming this Council to make it more representative (see S/PV.9702). Today, we are discussing how to make it more responsive, because even a reformed Council without moral standing will not preserve peace. Sierra Leone’s own history has taught us that peace is not inherited; it is cultivated, season by season, through the peaceful settlement of dispute, justice and equality. And today, as we gather under this roof of our multilateral collective security scheme, we must remember that hunger, too, is a form of violence — slow, silent, and corrosive. I thank Her Excellency Deputy Secretary-General Madam Amina Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya, Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki and Mr. Máximo Torero for their thoughtful briefings and for the leadership they continue to provide in addressing global food systems and humanitarian coordination. The Charter of the United Nations begins with a promise: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. That mandate extends beyond ending wars to preventing the conditions that make wars inevitable. As former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld warned us, our task is “to save humanity from hell”. In our century, that “hell” is not only found on battlefields; it is found in the empty bowl, the barren field and the malnourished child. Conflict situations around the world and the images that fill our screens and newspapers must compel us to end global complicity. Emaciated infants clinging to life, mothers whose bodies can no longer produce milk, fathers unable to provide a single meal for their families, and children who brave siege and bombardment in search of food, only to lose their lives to unexploded ordnance, are not distant tragedies; they are moral failures of our collective humanity. From Gaza to the Sahel, from the Sudan to Ukraine, and in parts of Haiti, hunger has been weaponized — a silent siege that kills long after the guns fall silent. It corrodes social cohesion, fuels displacement and, when combined with exclusion and despair, can ignite instability. In Africa, the world’s youngest region, where more than 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 25, rising expectations without opportunity or nourishment can quickly turn hope into unrest. That is why Sierra Leone called for this debate: to affirm that food security is peace security, not a secondary humanitarian issue. I wish to highlight three main points. Early warning systems must track how conflict disrupts production, storage, markets and transport so that early warning leads to early action. The Black Sea Grain Initiative demonstrated that dialogue, even amid conflict, can sustain vital supply lines. Above all, there must be accountability. When civilians are deliberately starved, perpetrators — State or non-State actors — must face consequences. No ambition can justify starving a child or destroying a harvest. The law forbids it; our conscience forbids it too. My second point is that food insecurity must be viewed as a driver of conflict, as well as a peacebuilding imperative. Conflict destroys food systems — fields are mined or burned, livestock stolen or lost, roads and ports are blocked, markets shuttered, prices spike beyond reach — while hunger deepens grievances and fuels renewed violence. This cruel cycle is evident in the Sudan, the Sahel, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Yemen and Haiti, where food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels. There can be no sustainable peace on an empty stomach. Food security must therefore be integral to peacebuilding, not an afterthought. Peace agreements must protect food systems and guarantee humanitarian access. Post-conflict recovery must restore livelihoods — through seeds, tools, feeder roads and access to markets. Women and youth must be central to this transformation — as producers, traders and innovators — because when families can plant, harvest, and sell in peace, reconciliation becomes real and durable. My third point relates to the peace and development nexus. As President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, I bring to this agenda our own national experience. I highlight our Feed Salone initiative as both a local model and a regional contribution to the global pursuit of peace through food security. Sierra Leone’s experience teaches that peace must be fed — literally and figuratively — every season. Our flagship national development initiative, Feed Salone, places food security at the heart of national development. It aims to raise productivity, reduce import dependence, create rural jobs and build climate resilience. The programme stands on four pillars. The first pillar is production, which involves access to seeds, mechanization, irrigation and research. The second pillar is resilience, focusing on climate-smart practices and land restoration. The third pillar is markets and value chains, involving rural infrastructure, processing and finance. The fourth pillar is human capital, which involves empowering women and youth, improving nutrition and linking protection to productivity. Our goal is not merely to grow food, but to grow peace — putting livelihoods in people’s hands, dignity in their homes and hope in their communities. Sierra Leone is also advancing regional cooperation on early warning, strategic reserves and trade facilitation so that grain can move when people need it most. As Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, Sierra Leone’s voice carries the shared The ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve and our Early Warning and Response Network are being expanded to anticipate crises, coordinate humanitarian corridors and stabilize markets. These efforts are part of a continental commitment under the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. We commend the United Nations agencies, international financial institutions and private sector partners, whose innovations and investments continue to sustain millions. Together we must now move from fragmented responses to a coordinated global food security compact. Intentions must now become implementation. I propose six concrete actions as part of a solution-driven approach. First, we must protect food systems in conflict. We must integrate the protection of civilian food assets, such as fields, herds, storage facilities, mills and sources of water and energy for agriculture, into Council mandates and sanctions regimes. We must have standard language in Council documents, mandates and sanctions criteria. The Council must also ensure the implementation and compliance with its resolutions, including resolution 2417 (2018). Secondly, we must institutionalize early warning. That requires regular, integrated United Nations reporting on the impacts of conflict on food systems and humanitarian access, enabling the Council to act before famine occurs. Thirdly, we must safeguard access and deconfliction mechanisms. We must condemn and sanction the obstruction of humanitarian relief, as well as the diversion and deliberate withholding of food aid as a tactic of war. We must support predictable, needs-based humanitarian corridors and ensure deconfliction. Fourthly, we must advance accountability. We must promote impartial investigations into starvation crimes, support the integration of starvation prohibitions into domestic law and, when appropriate, allow accountability measures to proceed. Fifthly, we must link peacebuilding financing to food security. We must ensure that peacebuilding strategies and financing instruments prioritize livelihoods, rural infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture as essential peace dividends, rather than optional extras. Sixthly and lastly, the empowerment of women and youth must be promoted by supporting programmes that finance land tenure, access to finance, skills training and market opportunities for young agricultural entrepreneurs, transforming potential conflict into foundations of stability. Starvation is never a natural outcome of conflict; it is a choice — a choice to break the law and betray our shared humanity. The Council has the duty to deter that choice and to hold violators to account. Sierra Leone’s voice in the Council is that of a nation that has journeyed from fragility to stability and that of a region that continues to choose dialogue over division. As the President of Sierra Leone, I have witnessed the power of principled engagement, even in difficult times. We may not always have the same interests, but we must always defend our shared humanity. Africa is here not to be pitied for its challenges, but to be partnered with for its solutions. Our continent holds 60 per cent of the world’s arable land, the youngest population and the greatest potential for innovation in sustainable agriculture. What we need is not sympathy but solidarity in order to unlock Africa’s power to feed itself and to help to feed the world. Preventing tomorrow’s wars requires treating food Let us reaffirm faith in the multilateral system, as the only credible platform for preventing starvation, upholding international law and preserving our shared humanity. Together, let us ensure that no child is starved into submission, no harvest held hostage and no community driven to violence by hunger. If we align our laws with our conscience, our mandates with the needs of people and our resources with the scale of the challenge, we will redeem the Charter’s promise to succeeding generations. Let us plant the seeds of justice, water them with compassion and guard them with courage so that peace may take root, not only in our resolutions but also in the daily lives of those we serve. For peace is not a season; it is a covenant we must renew with every act of humanity. I resume my functions as President of the Council.

I thank Sierra Leone for convening the Council today for this open debate, and it is especially an honour to have President Maada Bio presiding over the Council today. I welcome, you, Sir. The United States remains deeply alarmed by the rise in conflict-related food insecurity and, frankly, the very grim picture of severe food insecurity in many nations and many regions around the world. As we look around the world, we see, over and over again, oppressive regimes and their militaries, terrorist groups and other non-State actors destroying farms, destroying equipment and blocking major trade routes and humanitarian pipelines, which are lifelines for hungry people. The result is increased food insecurity and increasing numbers of people starving. This must be stopped. We must hold those responsible accountable for their actions. And just looking around the world, for example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed violence, particularly in the east, continues to displace families, continues to destroy fields, continues to disrupt trade. Millions remain food insecure as armed groups attack civilians, block humanitarian routes and undermine the ability of communities to buy or cultivate their own food. In the Sudan — the world’s largest humanitarian crisis — starvation has become a weapon. Starvation has become rampant as the parties use food as a tactic of war. All parties to the conflict must facilitate and allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the Sudan. In Haiti, active humanitarian and life-saving assistance continue to support families and children affected and terrorized by gang violence. The same type of humanitarian assistance is helping families who have been devastated recently by Hurricane Melissa and all those suffering from all forms of food insecurity. Programming is focused on Haiti’s complex situation, providing life-saving assistance and rapid relief to communities, who, again, are affected so horribly by gang violence, as well as other forms of natural disasters. The United States has improved food security by supporting more than 90,000 people with food, water, sanitation, shelter and health services, which, hopefully, will pave the way for a better future for Haiti and for Haitians. In Gaza, President Trump’s historic 20-point peace plan has already resulted in increased humanitarian aid to the people there. The United States will continue to work with the international community, with the United Nations, with so many nations represented here today, to deliver aid at scale to help those who need it the most. But just to cite an important statistic, in the fiscal year of 2025, the United States Government provided more than $400 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance inside the West Bank and Gaza, of which more than $300 million was for life-saving food and nutrition assistance. President Trump’s peace agreement has The war in Ukraine has continued to exacerbate food insecurity globally, and it underscores the far-reaching and long-lasting consequences of war on people’s basic needs and their basic ability to feed their families. Unfortunately, these are just a handful of countries and regions that are facing this scourge. The United States has proven, again and again, to be the most generous nation in the world. The American people contribute more than half a trillion dollars in life-saving aid to charitable causes around the world, many of which help to feed the hungry. The United States has long shouldered the financial burden of addressing this scourge, and we urge other donors to increase critically needed assistance but ultimately, the Deputy Secretary-General, who joins us today, is absolutely right. As she just said, only political solutions can lead to peace. Only political solutions can drive this scourge into the dustbin of history. The United States will remain absolutely committed to driving these political solutions home so that we never again have to see these hungry families whom we have all described and whom we pity here today.

At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President, for convening this important high-level open debate on conflict- related food insecurity. I also want to express my gratitude to the Deputy Secretary- General, Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya, Mr. Mayaki and Mr. Torero for their valuable contributions. Today’s discussion underscores a complex but undeniable truth: while conflict and hunger are often interlinked, their relationship is not uniform. Armed conflicts remain one of the leading drivers of acute food insecurity, yet food insecurity itself can exacerbate fragility, deepen inequality and undermine peacebuilding efforts. The Security Council’s engagement, particularly through resolution 2417 (2018), has been instrumental in recognizing that hunger, when used as a weapon or allowed to persist, can pose a significant threat to international peace and security. Yet, as the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises notes, the number of people facing severe food insecurity continues to rise. This calls for renewed global resolve anchored in prevention, protection and partnership. In Africa, we are witnessing a growing determination to address the structural causes of food insecurity through cooperation, innovation and shared responsibility. The African Union’s Kampala Declaration under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme provides a transformative framework for strengthening agrifood systems, enhancing productivity and linking sustainable agriculture to peace and stability. This approach, rooted in African priorities, recognizes that food security is not only about feeding people but about empowering communities, building inclusive economies and fostering resilience. Similarly, the African Common Position on Humanitarian Effectiveness demonstrates the value of regional solidarity and local ownership in addressing the root causes of vulnerability. These frameworks remind us that investing in resilience is an investment in peace. They also affirm that sustainable food systems can serve as a bridge between development and peacebuilding, helping societies transition from dependency to self-reliance. When communities are empowered, institutions are strengthened and international support aligns with local priorities, progress is possible. This means listening to women’s To move from recognition to action, my delegation would like to highlight several priorities. First, early warning and accountability mechanisms should be strengthened as outlined in resolution 2417 (2018). The Council should ensure that emerging risks are met with timely, coordinated responses and that those who weaponize hunger face appropriate consequences under international law. Secondly, partnerships that integrate humanitarian, development and peacebuilding efforts should be deepened. Sustainable food systems must be central to conflict prevention and post-conflict recovery strategies, ensuring that communities can withstand future shocks. Thirdly, we must place women at the centre of every stage of food security solutions and ensure a stronger gender lens in policy. This can be achieved through working consistently with sex-disaggregated data and supporting alternative livelihood strategies for women in agriculture and beyond. We must contribute to elevating women’s voices, resilience, knowledge and leadership at all levels. Genuine, lasting change requires recognizing women as critical drivers of food system sustainability and resilience. Fourthly, predictable and innovative financing should be mobilized that not only supports nationally owned projects but also prioritizes the transfer of practical knowledge, especially for improving natural resource management and tackling barriers created by unfair trade practices. Investment in rural infrastructure, market access and local production capacity can yield lasting dividends in peace. To conclude, addressing conflict-related food insecurity is not only a necessity but a strategic investment in peace and stability. Food must never be used as a weapon, nor should hunger be allowed to deepen divisions or perpetuate fragility. We reaffirm our collective commitment to transforming food insecurity from a source of instability into a catalyst for resilience and sustainable development. Our delegation will continue to strengthen partnerships and invest in sustainable development to build a future where every person has the right to food, opportunity and hope.

I thank you, Mr. President, Your Excellency Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and I welcome you once again to the Security Council. Guyana commends Sierra Leone for its efficient stewardship of the Security Council this month and its decision to convene an open debate on a subject of critical importance to global peace and security: conflict-related food insecurity. I thank you, Mr. President, for sharing Sierra Leone’s experience, from which there is much we can learn. We thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed for her sobering statement and Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for the comprehensive briefing. We also express our appreciation to the African Union’s Special Envoy, Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, and the Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr. MáximoTorero, for their valuable insights. Armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity in 14 hotspots of the highest concern, according to the FAO-World Food Programme Hunger Hotspots report released last Monday. We just heard from Mr. Torero that nearly 140 million people were affected by conflict-induced hunger in 2024 — almost double the number in 2018. We are seeing record levels of hunger around the globe, with famine confirmed in Gaza and the Sudan and the risk of famine in South Sudan. Together with Mali and Haiti, these countries are the five highest hunger hotspots of The undeniable reality is that armed conflict and violence drive acute food insecurity in multiple reinforcing ways. Conflict disrupts food production and supply chains, often destroying agricultural infrastructure and displacing communities from their land. These disruptions not only reduce the availability of food but also significantly limit access for the most vulnerable populations, compounding existing hardship and perpetuating cycles of hunger. We see this in the breakdown of social services, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the collapse of food systems and in starvation and displacement, creating a cycle of need across generations and worse when exacerbated by climate change and economic shocks. As an elected member of the Council, Guyana has prioritized food insecurity in conflict settings. Building on the efforts of those before us on the Council, we held a debate on the nexus between climate change, food insecurity and conflict during our presidency last year (see S/PV.9547) and produced a report with Adelphi on the topic, which was launched at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference. In our capacity as co-focal points on conflict and hunger in the Security Council, Guyana worked with Switzerland last year and Slovenia this year to raise awareness, propose Council action and emphasize the need to implement international humanitarian law to prevent conflict-induced starvation and implement resolution 2417 (2018). We also continue this advocacy as part of the Group of Friends on Action against Conflict and Hunger. As a result of our work, we have identified several distinct areas where significant gaps persist between early warning mechanisms and decisive action to address conflict-related food insecurity. I will underscore three points that are critical to closing these gaps and strengthening our collective response. The first point concerns the importance of advocacy, political cooperation and coordinated action. Advocacy is required to maintain global priority and collective political will for the full implementation of resolution 2417 (2018), which condemns starvation as a method of warfare, and resolution 2573 (2021), which condemns the destruction of civilian infrastructure critical to survival. Global cooperation is also required to address funding gaps, the humanitarian shortfall, scale up predictable and flexible funding for humanitarian aid and enforce compliance with international humanitarian law. In this context, we reaffirm our support for the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system. Secondly, early warning and prevention are pivotal. The role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security must begin with prevention through the range of diplomatic and political tools available to it. However, this should not limit the Security Council from employing innovative measures and new mechanisms to address conflict-induced hunger. Prevention should also encompass addressing the root causes of an armed conflict, including structural challenges. It must also be informed by comprehensive analyses and innovative approaches to bridging humanitarian and development finance and by rethinking emergency response. Thirdly and finally, individual efforts from each Member State can be the catalyst for positive change. Supporting local efforts, community-led initiatives and context- specific responses is a starting point. Improving national reliance efforts, investing in climate-smart agriculture, agrifood systems transformation and involving women and youth, as we have heard before, have multiplier effects with high-impact outcomes. Member States must also work to implement and operationalize Security Council measures, which are critical to ensuring the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers and in support of accountability mechanisms.

Let me thank the Deputy Secretary-General and our briefers for their powerful interventions this morning. I thank you, President Bio, for your presence today and for your efforts in highlighting the deadly impact of conflict-induced hunger around the world. The briefings we have heard this morning are stark and irrefutable. Conflict continues to drive, exacerbate and prolong hunger around the world. We are seeing starvation being used as a method of war. This is a violation of international humanitarian law, and it undermines the very foundations of our collective responsibility to protect civilians trapped in armed conflict. The international community is failing to realize the promise of zero hunger, and the Security Council is failing to realize the promise of resolution 2417 (2018). Allow me to make three points. First, the world this year has faced no less than two man-made and wholly preventable famines, as the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has just descried. In the Sudan, both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have instrumentalized food aid as a tool of war — blocking deliveries, denying access and manipulating assistance. Twenty- one million people are facing acute food insecurity all for the sake of political and military gain. In Gaza, severe restrictions on humanitarian aid have placed the entire population of Gaza at risk of a full-scale famine. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations be fully enabled to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid in accordance with the humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law. Secondly, the purposeful destruction of agricultural land and infrastructure essential for survival also continues to be deployed as a weapon. From the mining of fertile fields in Ukraine to the contamination of water sources and the targeting of irrigation systems in South Sudan, these acts inflict enduring harm long after the fighting ends. The loss of livestock, seed banks and arable land deepens displacement and poverty and exacerbates climate vulnerability, reducing communities’ ability to adapt to environmental shocks. Put simply, these deliberate acts are taking lives today and destroying futures for generations to come. Thirdly, we know hunger will not end with food aid alone. It demands political solutions that end violence, economic measures that sustain livelihoods, and environmental action that protects the natural systems people depend upon. Within the Council, we must move from reacting to crises to preventing them, by linking early warning to early action. And while we are not, and should not become, a humanitarian Council, we bear a special responsibility to act when humanitarian access is willfully denied. In conclusion, around this table, we know that we have the tools to act. Resolution 2417 (2018) was a testament to the Council’s resolve to end the scourge of conflict- induced hunger. But more than that, it was a collective call to action, a demand to uphold international humanitarian law and a demand for accountability for those

We welcome His Excellency, Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and we thank him for his insightful statement, with which we agree. We would also like to thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed for her important briefing, as well as Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya, African Union Special Envoy Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, and Mr. Máximo Torero of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for their valuable briefings. Recent figures indicate that more than 280 million people faced acute levels of food insecurity in 2024, with armed conflict being the main factor in almost half of these cases. For the first time in more than two decades, famine has been declared simultaneously in two territories: the Sudan and Gaza, reflecting not only the gravity of the situation, but also the inadequacy of the global response. Similarly, critical situations persist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a combination of hostilities, forced displacement and restrictions on humanitarian access have deepened the vulnerability of millions of people. Panama is closely monitoring the situation in Haiti, where the tragic reality facing the Artibonite valley region, traditionally the cradle of the country’s food production, is evident. In this area, armed gangs have extended their control over large rural areas, extorting farmers, burning homes and fields, obstructing irrigation systems and forcing the abandonment of thousands of hectares of crops. It is imperative that the parties to the conflict guarantee safe and unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance and that States, particularly those involved in military operations, comply with their international obligations. The use of food and water deprivation as a tactic of war, which is been seen, tragically, in too many conflicts, constitutes an unacceptable violation of the most basic norms of humanity. Special attention should be given to the millions of children in regions such as South Sudan and Yemen who are on the brink of famine, while many others in Somalia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali and Myanmar suffer the consequences of prolonged hunger. In that context, it is encouraging to see efforts to strengthen resilient and sustainable food systems that have a tangible impact on the lives of communities. Programmes such as the School Meals Coalition’s home-grown school meals initiative show that purchasing food from smallholder farmers not only boosts the rural economy, but also ensures nutritious meals for millions of children, strengthening the social fabric. Panama shares the African Union’s vision on the value of strengthening African food systems through the Kampala-Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration, which promotes sustainable production and intra-African trade. These comprehensive initiatives strengthen community cohesion, reinforce resilience in the face of crises and contribute in a concrete way to preventing the recurrence of conflicts, demonstrating the close connection between food security, sustainable development and lasting peace. Hunger is not an inevitable phenomenon; it is the result of unresolved conflicts, climate change, forced displacement and, too often, the deliberate denial of food through human action. Only through constructive dialogue, multilateral cooperation and early action can we reduce the risks of conflict and move towards a world where food is guaranteed as the human right that it is, and not a concession or privilege, so

We are very pleased to see you here today, Mr. President, presiding over our meeting. We would like to thank our today’s briefers for addressing a topic that can leave no one indifferent. Everyone seems to agree that conflicts go hand in hand with hunger. Yet, the causation here appears to be obvious: it is not hunger that triggers conflicts, but it is conflicts that trigger food insecurity. Hostilities destroy agriculture and disrupt trade. They cause mass displacements of people and deprive them of their livelihoods. For centuries, humankind has failed to eliminate the nefarious practice of using hunger as a weapon of war, even though today that is viewed as a gross violation of international humanitarian law. We recall how much hope many countries and United Nations agencies had placed in resolution 2417 (2018). Sadly, we have to admit that those hopes have not been fulfilled. On the contrary, the statistics from Gaza alone are enough to shock the world on a daily basis. We disapprove of singling out hunger as a cause of conflict. Hunger can only exacerbate already existing crises, just like many other socioeconomic problems. It is the crises themselves that are driven by political contradictions and religious and ethnic tensions. The most destructive factor in that regard is external interference in the sovereign affairs of States. Examples abound in the tragedies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. We share the concern regarding global hunger statistics. The number of people facing acute food insecurity has risen from 112 million, in 2018, to 295 million. Chronic undernourishment afflicts 700 million people, with more than 2.3 billion people still facing the problem of inadequate nutrition. At the same time, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme, wars are not the only cause of hunger. Besides natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, there are also economic factors that contribute to the problem. And it is vital to properly understand correctly their root causes. According to United Nations estimates, enough food is being produced globally. The problem lies in its uneven distribution. Excessive reserves have been accumulated in the West, while developing countries, primarily in Africa, due to past colonial and current neocolonial practices, are unable to restructure their economies to achieve food sovereignty and, therefore, remain vulnerable to market price fluctuations. Maintaining high prices on these is a major concern of the largest American and European producers of agricultural products, who control roughly 75 per cent of global trade in agricultural goods. Sadly, there is no United Nations analysis of these global threats to food security. It also took a long time for the general public to learn the truth about how Western countries rushed to save their economies during the coronavirus disease pandemic, completely disregarding how their reckless actions in the financial, economic, energy and other spheres would affect the more vulnerable actors in global trade. The plan was to sweep these manoeuvres under the rug by conducting a massive propaganda campaign to blame Russia for provoking a global food crisis. But gradually, the dust has settled. We had eye-opening experience with the Istanbul agreements, which showed the commercial benefit of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for European countries, even though it was initially presented as a humanitarian effort to help the starving. In addition, despite the efforts by the Secretary-General and his team, Western capitals failed to honour their claims that their unilateral sanctions would not affect Russian agricultural exports. In conclusion, we note that the problem of hunger must be comprehensively addressed. Actions by United Nations socioeconomic agencies are becoming increasingly significant in this context. Humanitarian aid should be seen as a temporary measure. Assistance to strengthen countries’ abilities to independently feed their own populations is key in that regard. That requires international cooperation and solidarity and averting politicization, unfair competition and illegal unilateral restrictive measures. Russian raw materials and food are in demand in 160 countries around the world. We are striving to forge reliable, long-term and equal relations with our partners and have consistently advocated for assistance to be provided for the development of their technological and economic sovereignty as a cornerstone of political stability. Despite all the obstacles created by Western countries, we are providing support to developing countries through various channels, both bilaterally and through international organizations, in particular through the World Food Programme. Through that United Nations body alone, Russia provided assistance to Afghanistan, the Niger, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Syria, Palestine, Cuba, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and a number of other countries in an amount exceeding $250 million between 2021 and 2025. We have helped and will continue to help those in need worldwide.

I would like to welcome you, President Maada Bio, to New York in order to preside over this meeting. We extend our gratitude to Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya, Mr. Torero and Special Envoy Mayaki for their briefings. Food security has a bearing on human survival and is vital to national economies, livelihoods and security. Currently global food insecurity is worsening, with 295 million people facing acute hunger, 60 per cent of whom live in conflict-affected areas. The Security Council has always followed the conflict and food security nexus closely and set forth a series of clear requirements in that regard in resolution 2417 (2018). The international community should build consensus and pool efforts to safeguard global food security and protect people from the threat of hunger. I would like to make four points in that connection. Secondly, we must uphold the international rule of law and safeguard civilians’ basic right to survival. In conflict zones, humanitarian aid is the primary, and often the only, lifeline for civilians, with organizations such as the United Nations being the last resort for survival. Regrettably, humanitarian operations are frequently obstructed, and violations of international humanitarian law are commonplace. Humanitarian assistance must not be politicized. Hunger must not be weaponized, and humanitarian workers must not become the targets of attacks. Compliance with international humanitarian law is an obligation on all parties; it is not optional. We call on Israel to abide scrupulously by international humanitarian law and enable the entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza at scale. The humanitarian situation in the Sudan is extremely dire. The Rapid Support Forces must immediately lift restrictions on humanitarian access to El Fasher so as to ensure the safe entry and distribution of supplies. Thirdly, we must promote sustainable development to tackle the root causes of conflicts and food insecurity. Inclusive and sustainable development is a vital foundation for lasting peace and a fundamental safeguard against hunger. The international community should increase support for developing countries by enhancing their capacity for independent development and governance, with a view to achieving lasting security and stability. We must resolutely oppose unilateralism and protectionist measures such as the abuse of tariffs and the erection of fences and barriers and foster a fair international environment that allows developing countries to access global markets and share in the dividends of emerging industries. For some time now, a certain developed country has been reluctant to fulfil its commitments on development financing, among others, even cutting off funding to international development agencies and openly opposing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, thereby dealing a severe blow to global development efforts. We call on all parties to uphold genuine multilateralism, foster a stable and open international development environment and accelerate efforts to bridge the North-South development divide and achieve shared development. Fourthly, we must improve the global governance of food and agriculture to safeguard shared global food security. The international food and agricultural market has long been plagued by issues such as the monopolization of pricing power by major grain traders, the excessive financialization of agricultural products, structural imbalances in production chains and the inadequate representation of developing countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative offers a Chinese solution to advance a more just and equitable global governance system, providing important guidance for improving the global governance of food and agriculture. The international community should unite and collaborate to amplify the representation, voices and decision-making power of developing countries. It must eliminate unreasonable restrictions on food production and exports, combat speculative capital and price monopolies, build a production and supply chain, entailing security, stability, mutual benefit and a win-win outcome and establish a fairer and more equitable international order for food trade.

We thank Sierra Leone for convening this timely debate. We welcome your presence, Mr. President, in presiding over this meeting, and we appreciate your important and invaluable statement. We also appreciate the briefers, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Mayaki and Mr. Máximo Torero for their important insights into the hunger-conflict nexus and ways to address it. The global environment today demonstrates a dangerous two-way dynamic: conflicts, including foreign occupation, are driving hunger on a massive scale, while hunger and economic desperation are, in turn, aggravating fragility and heightening the risk of renewed or protracted conflict. According to the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, more than 294 million people in 53 countries face acute food insecurity. In 14 of the 16 most severe hotspots, conflict remains the primary driver. It is a matter of great concern that starvation and collective punishment have often been used as tools to advance military or political objectives, in stark violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 2417 (2018). Nowhere was this more visible than in Gaza, where the latest assessments indicate that 100 per cent of the population face high levels of acute food insecurity, with a significant proportion already in the most severe, catastrophic phase, marked by starvation, destitution and death. The ongoing peace process offers a measure of hope, but it will take years to reverse the devastation of the past two years. It is therefore imperative that the ceasefire is fully respected and implemented; that humanitarian access remains unhindered and that urgent efforts begin towards reconstruction and rehabilitation. Patterns of devastation are also evident in Yemen, the Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and other protracted conflict areas, including occupied territories, where livelihoods have collapsed and millions are now dependent on humanitarian assistance for survival. We believe that food insecurity in conflict zones must be addressed through a comprehensive and principled approach. First, the universal and consistent application of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Security Council resolutions and international law in all conflict situations is imperative. It is the persistence of double standards and political expediency that often enables continued violations. Secondly, humanitarian assistance must never be subject to political conditions. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law, fully comply with ceasefires, allow safe and unimpeded aid delivery and protect humanitarian personnel. Accountability for deliberate obstruction or delays is a must. Thirdly, we must also address the systemic causes of poverty and hunger, eliminate rural poverty and protect our food systems, which are the main sources of livelihood for nearly 4.5 billion people. We must enlarge food production, moderate food prices and reform unequal agricultural trade. Climate-induced disasters, including recurrent floods and droughts, continue to erode food security. We must scale up support for adaptation and resilience. It requires not sympathy but solidarity and genuine partnership, as emphasized by you, Mr. President, with particular reference to Africa. The Security Council has a vital role in ensuring that conflict does not deprive civilians of their fundamental right to food and in advancing measures that prevent the weaponization of hunger, safeguard humanitarian access and strengthen the resilience of communities affected by conflict.

We thank Sierra Leone for convening this timely debate, as the World Food Programme (WFP) warns, for the first time in recent history, that the world is facing two concurrent famines — in the Sudan and in Gaza. The clear-eyed analysis of the briefings we heard this morning therefore comes at a critical juncture. The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-WFP Hunger Hotspots 2025–2026 outlook leave no doubt: conflict remains the principal driver of acute hunger. According to the Hunger Hotspots report, acute food insecurity is likely to worsen across 16 countries and territories. Among them, the Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali remain the hotspots of highest concern, while Yemen has now been elevated to the same category. This stark reality is a moral alarm bell that must jolt the international community into unified action. Across these contexts, armed violence destroys harvests, blocks markets and displaces millions, severing livelihoods and eroding resilience . The figures are staggering. In the Sudan, 24.6 million people are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity. In Gaza, despite the partial resumption of humanitarian assistance in mid-October, one third of the population is expected to face famine, the highest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification phase. In South Sudan, 57 per cent of the population faces high levels of acute food insecurity. In Haiti, by June 2026, 5.9 million people — more than half the population — is projected to face crisis and will struggle to survive. These are not statistics; they are lives — families, women and children — caught in the crossfire of conflict and deprivation. In this respect, I want to highlight the following. First, conflict multiplies vulnerability. Reports show that armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity. In 14 out of 16 hotspots, armed violence is the dominant cause of hunger. Food insecurity today is not inevitable; it is mostly man-made. This also means that it is almost always foreseeable and preventable. Secondly, the surge in hunger is occurring amid shrinking humanitarian resources. Only 36 per cent of the required funding for food security had been received by October 2025. At the same time, official development assistance is projected to decline by 13 per cent this year. This erosion of support has devastating effects: food assistance is rationed, nutrition programmes are cut, and pathways from relief to recovery collapse. Predictable financing, particularly through multilateral mechanisms, is essential to sustain operations and rebuild livelihoods. Thirdly, addressing conflict-related food insecurity requires coherent political, humanitarian and development action. Resolution 2417 (2018) reminds us that the deliberate starvation of civilians is prohibited, yet such violations persist. The Council must ensure that resolution 2417 (2018) is translated into consistent practice, demanding respect for humanitarian law and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians and holding accountable those who weaponize hunger. In the context Fourthly, we must recognize that food security is national security. Where people cannot feed their families, despair fuels displacement, instability and conflict. When food systems collapse, so do economies, institutions and social cohesion. An investment in food security is therefore an investment in peace; no nation can be secure when its people are hungry. On this occasion, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to global food security. Greece has been a party to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty since 2024 and was among the early signatories of the 2023 joint communiqué condemning the use of food as a weapon of war. Translating commitment into action, Greece proudly participates in the Grain from Ukraine initiative under the World Food Programme (WFP). Furthermore, in solidarity with civilians, Greece airdropped 8.5 tons of food supplies in Gaza earlier this year, while also being a contributing donor to WFP’s operations in the Sudan. The human cost of inaction is measured in lives lost, in children irreversibly malnourished, and in communities robbed of hope. The Hunger Hotspots report and the Global Report on Food Crises are not records of despair; they are calls to coordinated, decisive action. Preventing famine and ending the weaponization of hunger are not only moral imperatives; they are political responsibilities. Greece stands ready to work with all partners to ensure that conflict no longer consigns millions to hunger.

I welcome the participation of Your Excellency Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and commend Sierra Leone for convening this timely open debate. We also thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed; the Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Joyce Msuya; the African Union Special Envoy, Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki; and Mr. Máximo Torero Cullen for their thoughtful briefings. Although the Security Council adopted, in 2018, resolution 2417 (2018), which identifies the link between armed conflict and hunger and condemns the use of starvation as a method of warfare, acute food insecurity continues to escalate. The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises demonstrates that conflict remains the primary driver of the most severe crises. Nowhere is this starker than in the Sudan and in Gaza. In Gaza and in the Sudan, siege tactics, restrictions on food, clean water, fuel and electricity, and repeated strikes on essential infrastructure have amounted to the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The impact on civilians, especially children, has been profound, with long-term consequences that cannot be reversed. The link between hunger and conflict feeds a vicious cycle. Breaking this cycle is essential if the Council is to uphold its responsibility for international peace and security. Allow me to highlight three priority areas. First, starvation can never be justified as a tool of war. Parties to conflict must protect civilians and the systems crucial to their survival, including food production and water infrastructure, and must allow unimpeded humanitarian access to the needy population. Algeria is actively engaged in this agenda, co-chairing the working group on the protection of civilian infrastructure within the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. Secondly, sustainable political solutions are indispensable. Many countries confront overlapping pressures, including economic shocks, climate extremes, inflation and displacement. Algeria supports socioeconomic development as a foundation for stability through its cooperation agency, which finances projects across Africa in partnership with UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme. Thirdly, the Council should advance concrete measures, including creating early warning mechanisms for violations against food, energy and water systems; mobilizing financial resources to rapidly restore essential services in conflict settings; guaranteeing safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access; ensuring accountability for attacks on civilian infrastructure; and, lastly, establishing a dedicated sanctions regime targeting parties that violate resolution 2417 (2018) and commit international humanitarian law breaches such as starvation as a weapon of warfare. Food insecurity can arise from many factors, but when it is driven or exacerbated by armed conflict, the international community, including the Security Council, has a duty to respond swiftly and decisively. Algeria remains fully committed to working with all partners to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and promote a just and lasting peace in the world.

The Republic of Korea commends Sierra Leone for convening this timely debate under the presence of His Excellency Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. I also thank the Deputy Secretary- General Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya, Special Envoy Mayaki and Mr. Torero for their insights. The relationship between conflict and food insecurity is of an interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature. Helping communities in need requires integrated and holistic approaches that address both immediate requirements and structural causes. In that regard, the Republic of Korea underscores the following three priorities on which the international community must take more decisive action. First, we must ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and respond to urgent needs. Time and again, we have seen a disturbing pattern of deliberate obstruction of aid. Notably, humanitarian access has been used as a weapon of war — aid convoys denied, warehouses looted and relief workers targeted — leaving millions trapped in certain areas declared by the United Nations to be experiencing famine. Recalling resolutions 2417 (2018), my delegation urges all parties to conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate rapid and unhindered humanitarian access at scale. At the same time, the Council and the international community must support more effective and responsive approaches to reach those most in need, including cash-based transfers and flexible funding. We cannot allow crises like Yemen — where funding shortfalls have left more than 17 million people facing acute hunger — become the norm. In particular, the Republic of Korea is implementing the Responding with Emergency Assistance for Conflict-affected Households initiative, in partnership with the World Food Programme, in countries such as Myanmar, Syria, Palestine and the Sudan, to alleviate humanitarian crises. This partnership is also expected to contribute to enhancing food security in those countries by providing emergency food and nutrition support. In that context, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is uniquely positioned to play a catalytic role by convening a broad range of stakeholders. We propose that the PBC organize thematic sessions focused on specific countries or regions facing conflict-related food insecurity, such as the Sahel, assembling relevant United Nations entities, regional organizations and international financial institutions. Last but not least, we must strengthen food system resilience. Resilient agrifood systems can withstand shocks, reduce communities’ vulnerability to manipulation and prevent local disruptions from cascading into broader instability. That is why building sustainable food systems must remain a core concern of the Council and the wider United Nations membership. In that vein, my delegation welcomes the 2025 Kampala-Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration, an ambitious road map for transforming Africa’s agrifood systems. In the same guiding spirit, the Republic of Korea proudly supports African countries in localizing and improving rice production by sharing high-yield rice varieties and agricultural technology. In closing, the Republic of Korea reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating the scourge of food insecurity in communities where it matters most.

I thank Your Excellency President Bio to the Council, and I thank Sierra Leone for convening this important debate. I also thank Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya, Dr. Mayaki and Mr. Torero for their frank and sobering briefings. Famine in the twenty-first century is not a natural disaster — it is a man-made tragedy. The evidence is clear: nearly 300 million people, most in countries affected by conflict, face acute food insecurity. Across the Sudan, Gaza, the Sahel, Yemen and Myanmar, conflict has devastated harvests, shattered supply chains and uprooted families from the land they depend on. I will make three points in this regard. First, the Security Council has a responsibility to address conflict, to prevent escalation and to support efforts towards inclusive and sustainable peace. We have the tools to do so. Resolutions 2417 (2018) and 2573 (2021) are unequivocal: starvation as a weapon of war and attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. We urge all Member States to strengthen monitoring, reporting and accountability for violations, and to uphold their obligations under these resolutions. Secondly, international humanitarian law must be upheld. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to conflict to comply fully with international humanitarian law and allow rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. When aid is blocked or delayed, it is the most vulnerable who suffer first — families are cut off from food and children face acute malnutrition. In April, the United Kingdom launched the Conflict, Hunger and International Humanitarian Law Handbook, offering practical guidance to minimize food insecurity during conflict. Thirdly, we must act to prevent hunger wherever it occurs. Conflict breeds hunger, but hunger can also fuel instability and further conflict. The United Kingdom’s Resilience and Adaptation Fund, alongside our humanitarian financing, is supporting longer-term solutions in fragile and conflict-affected States — building The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting food security and tackling conflict-driven hunger. We are the largest bilateral donor to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and, this year alone, contributed over $540 million to the World Food Programme for critical interventions, including in Palestine and the Sudan. The United Kingdom will continue to press for sustained humanitarian access and invest in resilience so that conflict does not condemn communities to hunger. We all must use the tools at our disposal to break this cycle.

We would like to thank Sierra Leone for organizing today’s open debate, and we thank you, President Julius Maada Bio, for presiding over the meeting and, thus, elevating the importance of conflict-induced hunger for global peace and security. We thank all of the briefers for their insight. Serving as a former co-focal point on conflict and hunger, together with Guyana, we feel that we encountered acute food insecurity too many times during our tenure. For the first time ever, we face two famines unfolding simultaneously — in Gaza and in the Sudan. And these are not the only crises demanding our urgent response. Attention to looming hunger is critically needed in Yemen, South Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Haiti, Afghanistan and beyond. The interplay of climate and conflict continues unleashing the perfect storm on already vulnerable populations. My first message today is on the need to globally enhance respect for international humanitarian and human rights law — the clearest tools we have to prevent conflict- driven hunger. Armed conflict does not inevitably produce famine; failure to respect international humanitarian law and the Council’s resolutions does. Through siege tactics, the destruction of agricultural systems, the obstruction of aid or attacks on markets, water systems and transport routes, the result is predictable: starvation, disease, displacement and the collapse of people’s ability to feed themselves. When starvation as a weapon of war continues with impunity in one conflict, the erosion of respect for international humanitarian law is inevitable in all other conflicts. As a consequence, we are confronted with the largest number of starving civilians in conflicts. My second message is about the role of the Council and the tools at its disposal. Over the past year, through numerous informal briefings convened by Slovenia and Guyana, with partners, one lesson has stood out clearly: knowledge shapes the Council’s action. And through the multiple extraordinary Council meetings requested by our delegations, we have seen that action, even the smallest of steps — a newly opened crossing point, a temporary ceasefire that enables delivery, a humanitarian corridor negotiated in time — saves lives. The Council should systematically benefit from regular reporting and early warning data. The United Nations and its partners, especially the Global Network Against Food Crises, must continue to use the Chamber to sound the alarm. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reports must remain a trusted and protected source for the Council. To quote a compelling argument from our partners at the Global Coalition for Action against Conflict and Hunger: “If we can document it, we can predict it. If we can predict it, we can prevent it.” My final message is that famine does not end when the world’s attention shifts elsewhere. Even when the headlines fade, children who are suffering from stunting or wasting remain marked, physically and psychologically, for life. Women who

I welcome you, Mr. President — or, should I say, Mr. President of the Republic — to New York. My delegation would first like to congratulate Sierra Leone on its presidency of the Council and to thank you for your personal efforts, as Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, to restore peace, particularly in West Africa. I would also like to thank Sierra Leone for this debate, which focuses on a subject that is central to international peace and security. The briefers whom we have heard — Ms. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General; Ms. Msuya, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator; Mr. Mayaki, African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems; and Mr. Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, have described the many facets of this issue. As we have just heard, the number of people afflicted by hunger is on the rise. Famine has been confirmed in the Sudan. Millions are suffering from malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Children and women are bearing the brunt, with devastating short- and long-term consequences, as has been highlighted. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it deliberately caused a blockade, with devastating consequences for global food security. Considerable efforts were needed to mitigate the catastrophic effects, particularly on developing countries and the most vulnerable communities. Conflict and violence are now the main cause of acute food insecurity in the world. As the executive organ with responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council must first galvanize efforts early on, with the international community and regional organizations. Acting early on means, among other measures, fully engaging with warnings — those conveyed by the Secretary- General pursuant to resolution 2417 (2018), those from the reports of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, whose work France commends, and those from the Global Network Against Food Crises, which is calling for action in 16 countries and territories. Subsequently, we must rally to ensure that the Council’s resolutions and international humanitarian law are fully enforced. Safe and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured in all circumstances. The use of famine as a weapon of war against civilians is prohibited. Infrastructure essential to the survival of the population, including infrastructure related to food and agriculture, must be safeguarded. Perpetrators of violations must be held accountable. Impunity is unacceptable. In the Sudan, where war is raging, and in Gaza, where our hopes are for a lasting ceasefire, famine has spread, whereas dozens of tons of food aid were awaiting delivery. France underscores its utmost condemnation of the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces during and after the capture of El Fasher. In Yemen, the Houthis’ detention of dozens of humanitarian workers, in violation of international law, is compounding an alarming food insecurity situation. France reiterates its strongest condemnation and its call for the immediate release of the staff being held. Lastly, we must take the long view. The Council must act not only to bring about ceasefires but also to establish lasting peace. It must pave the way, in the aftermath of conflict, for projects focused on restoring food, food production and food distribution systems. It did so for Syria. Gaza has just endured a devastating war, which has inflicted famine on the population. The efforts of the United States, The year 2025 will be remembered as a year of grim records, with the confirmation of two simultaneous famines and the highest number of conflicts ever recorded. The Nutrition for Growth Summit, held in Paris in March, raised $30 billion for the eradication of malnutrition in all its forms worldwide. Let us ensure that our Council plays its part in achieving this goal.

At this juncture, I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collars of the microphones will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan warmly welcomes you, Mr. President, to New York and commends Sierra Leone for convening this timely debate. We thank today’s briefers for their valuable insights. The link between conflict and food insecurity has become one of the most alarming global trends of our time. Hunger is no longer solely a humanitarian challenge. It has become a major driver of instability, displacement and repeated cycles of violence. As underlined in resolution 2417 (2018), the deliberate destruction of food systems and the starvation of civilians constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and must be addressed with unity and determination. Climate change further exacerbates these challenges. In many regions, rising temperatures, droughts and land degradation are eroding livelihoods, fuelling migration and heightening competition over scarce natural resources. Kazakhstan firmly believes that sustainable peace is impossible without resilient food systems. We are proud to host in Astana the Islamic Organization for Food Security — a specialized institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that brings together 42 member States. The Islamic Organization for Food Security plays a key role in developing strategic food reserves, providing humanitarian assistance and building agricultural capacity across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its recent initiatives on grain security, early warning systems and support to conflict- affected populations, including in Gaza, demonstrate how regional mechanisms can effectively complement the United Nations system. We encourage stronger cooperation between the Islamic Organization for Food Security, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other United Nations entities to enhance global resilience and ensure that no community becomes vulnerable to hunger as a consequence of conflict. Preventing food insecurity requires more than emergency responses; it demands long-term investment in climate-smart agriculture, water-efficient technologies, early warning systems and inclusive rural development. As a major agricultural producer and reliable food supplier, Kazakhstan stands ready to expand cooperation with all partners. We remain committed to supporting global and regional efforts, promoting equitable trade and contributing to global humanitarian assistance.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines. The majority of the world’s food-insecure live in countries ravaged by armed conflict, which disrupts food production and distribution, displaces communities, destroys critical infrastructure and blocks humanitarian access. Conversely, food insecurity heightens tensions, deepens marginalization and can fuel further violence. Breaking this vicious cycle requires our collective resolve and coordinated action. The Philippines emphasizes the following three priorities. First, civilians and food systems must be protected. Resolutions 2417 (2018) and 2573 (2021) stress that the use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and parties to conflict must protect civilian infrastructure essential for survival. Secondly, humanitarian access should be prioritized. We call on all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international law and to facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian assistance. Women, children and vulnerable populations bear the disproportionate burden of conflict-induced hunger and must be prioritized. Thirdly, building resilient and sustainable food systems is essential for lasting peace. Rural and agricultural development, market access, livelihood diversification and equitable resource distribution are vehicles for stability and sustainable development that address the root causes of conflict. The Philippines’ peace process in Mindanao demonstrates that addressing land rights, providing livelihood opportunities and agricultural development are key components for sustainable peace agreements. Through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the south of the country, we work to ensure that formerly conflict-affected communities have access to agricultural support, markets and food security programmes that promote economic opportunity and activity. Nationally, the Philippines advances food security through our rice competitiveness enhancement programme, climate-resilient agriculture initiatives and social protection programmes that seek to cushion vulnerable populations from food price shocks. In conclusion, the Philippines stands ready to work with all Member States and the broader international community to help break the harmful cycle of conflict and food insecurity. We support the Security Council’s continued consideration and action on this important topic.

I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

I wish to thank Sierra Leone for convening this meeting, and I thank the briefers for their valuable insights. It is Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to contribute to building a world order based on freedom, peace and social justice. This means a world free of fear of conflict and hunger. This is why Indonesia places high importance on food security as a key pillar for peace, stability and prosperity. And while Indonesia has been fortunate to be blessed with enough resources to continue pursuing food security, in other parts of the world, many countries still face great challenges. Nearly 300 million people faced acute food insecurity in conflict-affected countries and territories in 2024. This is unacceptable. We need a strong United Nations, with a robust Security Council, with the protection of civilians at the heart of our efforts. Against this backdrop, we wish to emphasize three points. Secondly, we must ensure sustained humanitarian assistance. The most essential step is the cessation of hostilities and maintaining safe, unhindered and unimpeded humanitarian access. Equally important is to protect all humanitarian personnel working on the ground to save lives. This also entails ensuring the protection of logistics and infrastructures that are critical to food security. We call for the international community to step up humanitarian action to avert the spread of hunger in conflict situations. For our part, this year, Indonesia has contributed $12 million through the World Food Programme to address the severe food crisis in Gaza and dispatched more than 120 tons of humanitarian aid to Myanmar. Thirdly, we must break the vicious cycle of conflict and food insecurity. Addressing the root causes of conflict and finding a lasting solution for peace requires a holistic approach. This requires synergy between all relevant United Nations bodies and agencies. Furthermore, strengthening collaboration with regional and subregional organizations is crucial. Indonesia welcomes regional initiatives, such as those set out by the African Union, and stands ready to contribute. The topic of our debate today clearly shows that the challenges of peace and security are multifaceted. Indonesia therefore believes that it is more important than ever to strengthen the multilateral system to address these challenges. Rest assured of Indonesia’s support towards these efforts.

I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

We welcome the presence of His Excellency Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, at the beginning of this meeting. We thank the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, for her briefing. We stand in solidarity with our sister nations in Africa, where long-standing conflicts persist, left behind by centuries of colonial domination and exploitation, which have affected the development of their peoples, with many of their children today suffering the consequences, including food insecurity. This year’s report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World prepared by several United Nations agencies and programmes estimates that between 638 million and 720 million people faced hunger in 2024, which is between 7.8 and 8.8 per cent of the global population. The outlook for 2030 is not encouraging. With only five years left until the deadline for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the goal of ending hunger remains distant and represents one of the greatest debts to humankind. The General Assembly is called upon to lead global efforts to achieve this goal, together with other specialized agencies of the United Nations system. At the same time, global reports confirm that conflicts remain the main catalyst for acute food insecurity, affecting approximately 140 million people in 20 countries and territories. Last August, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization reported that more than half a million people in Gaza were trapped in famine. Despite the negotiated ceasefire, obstacles to Palestinians’ access to humanitarian aid, including food, remain. The WFP reported this November that the amount of food in Gaza remains severely limited and insufficient. This is The data illustrates that hunger is being used as a powerful weapon of war against the Palestinian people. While we deliberate here, millions of people in Gaza are condemned to starvation, as a result of Israel’s actions of genocide, extermination and ethnic cleansing, carried out with impunity and military and financial support guaranteed by the United States Government. The Security Council must put an end to these actions, in accordance with its mandate to maintain international peace and security. Resources abound on the planet, but they are squandered in the interests of the major Powers, including on sophisticated killing devices. Wealth must be redistributed fairly. It is urgent to respond to the long-standing call of developing countries for a new international economic order that is just, democratic and equitable, which will make it possible to eradicate the root causes of hunger and inequality and promote sustainable development for all peoples, thereby eliminating potential triggers of conflicts that affect international peace and security.

I now give the floor to Mrs. Samson. Mrs. Samson: I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Andorra and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. We are off track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, zero hunger by 2030. Acute hunger has tripled in the past decade. We see rising global needs, while international priorities are shifting and resources diminishing. There are many causes for acute food insecurity, but three stand out: conflict and insecurity, climate change, and economic shocks and fragility. For the first time since the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification was established, in 2004, two famines are unfolding simultaneously — in the Sudan and in Gaza — while South Sudan, Haiti, Yemen and Mali remain at risk of famine. These food and malnutrition crises are entirely man-made and preventable. Yet humanitarian access is denied, aid workers are attacked, and civilians and food- related infrastructure are being targeted. In line with resolution 2417 (2018), we strongly condemn the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, as prohibited by international humanitarian law. As we have heard today, across Gaza, the Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Sahel and other regions, a combination of conflict and/or climate shocks, with economic instability, are disrupting food systems and driving food insecurity to unprecedented levels. Humanitarian access should be ensured and respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence strengthened. Regional organizations, such as the African Union and others, play a vital role in preventing and responding to these crises, and the European Union remains committed to working in close partnership with them. The right to adequate and nutritious food is a human right. Fighting hunger and malnutrition lies at the heart of our humanitarian work, and we will stand firm in our engagement. The EU is a member of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and intends to uphold the relevant commitments. As global funding for food crises declines, the European Union has been and will remain a stable and reliable donor. Team Europe’s response to global food insecurity in our partner countries since 2022 has amounted to €18 billion. With regard to some recent debates about the impact of international measures such as sanctions on global food security, let me be crystal clear: all EU actions taken in response to grave violations of international law are not only lawful, proportionate and fully justified in protecting the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, but also, in every instance, carefully designed to ensure that civilians are protected, that food reaches those who need it most and that collateral consequences for global food security, trade and access to essential goods are avoided. On the contrary, the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its deliberate targeting of agricultural infrastructure and the obstruction of maritime routes have severely disrupted exports, driven up food and fertilizer prices and put additional pressure on vulnerable populations worldwide. Any restrictive measures adopted by countries in response to Russia’s violation of the Charter of the United Nations is not the cause of agricultural disruption. Urgent action is needed. First, there is a need for unimpeded, sustained, rapid and safe access. Through humanitarian diplomacy, we must push to protect civilians, infrastructure and aid workers. Secondly, we need to unreservedly condemn the persistent disrespect for international humanitarian law, the shrinking of humanitarian space, and the record number of attacks against humanitarian and United Nations personnel, especially local and national. The EU is committed to strengthening humanitarian diplomacy efforts to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, facilitate access and promote accountability for violations. Thirdly, the international community needs to support humanitarian actors in delivering assistance more effectively and efficiently, while ensuring the safety and security of those providing it. We must strengthen the humanitarian–development– peace nexus, ensuring that life-saving assistance goes hand in hand with structural interventions that address root causes. As principled donors and partners, the EU and its member States remain invested in actively supporting an inclusive, sustainable and truly transformative humanitarian reset. In these difficult times, we must stand in solidarity, united and determined. A hunger crisis of this magnitude and complexity demands collective, immediate and coherent action.

I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Italy fully aligns itself with the statement just delivered on behalf of the European Union and wishes to add some further remarks in its national capacity. We thank Sierra Leone for foregrounding, during its presidency of the Security Council, the issue of conflict-related food insecurity, a top priority for Italy. Food Italy recognizes the great importance of tackling the nexus between conflict and food insecurity, which has therefore been identified as a strategic priority of our foreign policy and for global peace. This is why we firmly support resolution 2417 (2018), and we stand ready to work within the Security Council to transform the commitments laid out therein into robust monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms. Italy remains deeply committed to addressing conflict-related food insecurity in Africa. In this spirit, we are proud to support, among others, the populations of Eastern Sudan through a new contribution of €6.55 million in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). This initiative targets the most vulnerable, including children and pregnant or nursing women, providing essential nutrition and humanitarian assistance in Gedaref and Kassala States. Moreover, Italy’s Food for Gaza initiative is a tangible expression of our commitment to safeguarding civilians and sustaining food systems in conflict- affected areas. Through close coordination with the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we have delivered more than 2 thousand tons of food and medical and relief supplies to the Gaza Strip. We also continue to support Ukraine in mitigating the humanitarian impact of conflict on food security, considering that the Russian aggression has hindered food security well beyond Ukraine’s borders. In this context, we support the Grain from Ukraine initiative, which assists Ukraine in its grain production and export capacity. Recently, Italy has also signed an agreement allocating €9 million to strengthen sustainable agricultural development in the Odesa region. Moreover, we must remember that conflict and displacement continue to disrupt food systems, from production, manufacturing and marketing to consumption and the management of food loss and waste. This is why we need an integrated approach that factors in fragility, post-crisis contexts, vulnerability and food insecurity as a multidimensional phenomenon, not just technical or agricultural. The Rome-based agencies — the FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development and WFP — stand at the heart of global efforts to make food systems more resilient, sustainable and inclusive. From early warning and anticipatory action to smallholder financing and climate-smart agriculture, they are uniquely positioned to connect humanitarian response with long-term development. Italy is proud to host and support the Rome-based agencies as global hubs for food security and nutrition. More recently, Italy co-hosted, together with Ethiopia, the United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment. Following the previous editions of the Summit, held in New York and Rome, we strongly believed in the importance of holding this second Stocktaking Moment in Africa, which is one of the continents most affected by conflicts. Today let us reiterate our collective commitment to confronting food insecurity with urgency, determination, innovation and solidarity

I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

We thank Sierra Leone for convening this debate and for its comprehensive approach to the relationship between hunger and conflict. We also thank Ms. Amina Mohammed, Ms. Joyce Msuya, Mr. Máximo Torero and Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki for their briefings. The reality on the ground is clear: in contexts such as Palestine, Ukraine, the Sudan, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflicts continue to deliberately disrupt food systems, destroying livelihoods and forcing the displacement of entire communities, particularly affecting women, children and the elderly. Faced with these challenges, we must promote unrestricted respect for international law, protect critical infrastructure, guarantee unrestricted humanitarian access and foster cooperation among United Nations agencies, local governments, regional organizations and civil society. In this regard, Chile values the initiatives of the African Union and its strategies to link agricultural production with community resilience and peacebuilding. It is also essential to recognize that food insecurity can become a factor that exacerbates instability and prolongs cycles of violence. Breaking this link requires strengthening prevention and sustainable development policies. Humanitarian access requires real political commitment. The Council must ensure that international humanitarian law is respected and that assistance reaches those in need without delay. Similarly, the full implementation of humanitarian exemptions is essential to prevent personnel and supplies from being caught up in administrative procedures. Humanitarian agencies need security, predictability and flexible resources, which means streamlining access permits and protecting humanitarian infrastructure. The response to food insecurity also requires innovation and cooperation. Chile promotes sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and water management policies that strengthen food security. In conflict situations, these measures must be accompanied by the protection of essential infrastructure for food production and distribution so as to reduce communities’ vulnerability and prevent the deterioration of livelihoods from acting as a factor of instability. As the President of the Republic recalled in October in his address to the plenary session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, ending hunger is a minimum civilizational requirement that requires strengthening multilateralism, international cooperation and the sustainable transformation of food systems. Lastly, ensuring humanitarian access, collaborating with civilians and reducing the factors that increase the vulnerability of communities are responsibilities that cannot be put off. Chile reaffirms its conviction that if we act with consistency and a sense of responsibility, we can contribute effectively to alleviating human suffering and sustaining collective efforts for lasting peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

We thank Sierra Leone for this timely initiative and the briefers for their valuable insights. This meeting takes place at a time when the international community is still reeling from the harrowing images of induced hunger in the Gaza Strip and the unprecedented scale of the humanitarian crises in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere on the African continent, among others. The security landscape in Africa is also characterized by the persistence of conventional security threats, including intra-State conflicts such as insurgencies and conflicts involving terrorist groups . Challenges related to governance and corruption have resulted in The ongoing scramble for rare mineral resources is another area of concern involving States and non-State actors, such as transnational crime syndicates, which are leveraging new technologies in the fight for these resources, resulting in violent conflicts. Conflict limits access to food in various ways, while also disrupting the flow of food and humanitarian aid, thereby driving acute hunger. It also causes widespread displacement, and starvation is also used as a weapon of war. Infrastructure is damaged or destroyed during conflict, making it harder to plant, harvest and transport food. Landmines and other remnants of war frequently leave farmland too dangerous to cultivate, thereby deepening hunger. Conflict also leads to food insecurity, which in turn further increases the chances of unrest and violence. While it is challenging to address food insecurity during ongoing conflict, various mechanisms, including at the regional and subregional level, should be employed to defuse tensions, mediate and build and sustain peace. The good offices of the Secretary-General need to be utilized to negotiate safe passage or corridors for humanitarian aid — a feat that is always challenging at the best of times, especially where civilian infrastructure has been damaged. However, community structures, mostly led by women involved in building peace at the local level, have proven to be instrumental in reaching vulnerable communities. Building partnerships with civil society and the private sector has led to the development of innovative solutions to access the most vulnerable sectors of the population. Young people have also leveraged new technologies to reach far-flung and isolated areas. Women’s networks have further been instrumental, especially in building resilience to hunger through community-based projects, with the support of Governments, in the absence of social security nets. They have proven to be resourceful in also documenting human rights violations and abuses that could ensure accountability in countries emerging from conflict. Working in a coherent manner, the United Nations agencies and programmes have been critical partners, given their expertise, in raising the alarm about and also documenting human rights violations, including violations of international humanitarian law. Leveraging technology, including space technology for agricultural purposes, is also important, in such things as predicting extreme weather conditions that affect the production of food. Humanitarian strategies, necessary to deal with disasters as part of national development plans, play a key role. Finally, there is a need to build food systems that are adaptive, inclusive, sustainable and resilient, diversifying and increasing the reliability of food sources, which require integrating planning and adaptation in agricultural strategies. In this regard, we commend the latest iteration of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and its action plan — the Kampala strategy and action plan 2026–2025 — aimed at eliminating hunger and reducing poverty through economic growth and agricultural development.

I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.

Spain aligns itself with the statement to be made by the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger. At the national level, we would like to share some reflections. The global hunger situation is extremely alarming. According to the World Food Programme, 70 per cent of people suffering from acute food insecurity live in fragile or conflict-affected countries. Crop destruction, market disruption and forced displacement are exacerbating a global crisis, with particularly serious cases International humanitarian law is clear: the use of hunger as a method of warfare is prohibited, as recognized by resolution 2417 (2018). Attacks on essential infrastructure, as well as crops, and the blocking of humanitarian aid, have a devastating impact on food security. Spain wishes to express its deep concern about the devastating link between armed conflict and hunger. Spain’s Humanitarian Diplomacy Strategy addresses this scourge as one of its priorities, and we are combating it through our humanitarian diplomacy and international cooperation. In addition, we demand full respect for international humanitarian law, allowing unrestricted access to humanitarian aid in all contexts. We also demand accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. Faced with the growing map of hunger in the world and the humanitarian funding crisis, Spain has strengthened its humanitarian response. Through our Cooperation and Development Agency, we have tripled our humanitarian budget over the past five years, in line with the Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity Act, which sets a target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2030, of which 10 per cent is for humanitarian aid. Our main humanitarian partner in the fight against food insecurity is the World Food Programme. In 2025, we have disbursed more than €16 million in voluntary contributions, including a €1.5 million contribution to the Logistics Centre in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, which is key to operations in the Sahel and West Africa. We also collaborate with UNICEF, the Red Cross and various Spanish non-governmental organizations in places such as Haiti, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali. Our commitment also translates into concrete multilateral cooperation actions, such as support for the Economic Community of West African States Regional Food Security Reserve, a project that strengthens national and regional capacities to respond to food crises through local, national and regional food reserves, complementing the efforts of member States.Finally, in order to combat hunger in armed conflicts, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding international humanitarian law, accountability and multilateral action. It is not only a matter of saving lives, but also of protecting peace and human dignity.

There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. I intend, with the concurrence of the members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m.