(Continued) Food under fire: the Security Council's role in mitigating global and local food crises - Security Council, 10213th meeting

The 10213th meeting of the Security Council is resumed. As we still have a long list of speakers, I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statement to no more than five minutes. The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring this remarks to a close after five minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

Madam President, I thank Denmark for convening this open debate and the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the director of the World Food Programme, and the Executive Director of Action Against Hunger for all of your valuable contributions. As Marcia Sen said, hunger is the most invisible but the most destructive of all of the weapons of mass destruction. This invisible weapon manifests itself today particularly cruelly in the conflicts that remain the main cause of the most grave food crises in the world currently. This They interrupt food production, the provision of fertilizer, humanitarian access and trade routes, both on land and on sea. For the countries that depend the most on food imports, a far away war can quickly be turned into a domestic economic and social emergency. Hunger, pushes population displacement, while forced displacement destroys the livelihoods and agricultural production and further worsens food insecurity. Resolution 2417 recognized this relationship eight years ago and established clear obligations. The parties to conflict must respect and protect the civilian population and the goods that are essential for their survival crops, livestock, farms and markets, water and irrigation systems, processing and storage facilities and the means used to transport food and humanitarian assistance. The resolution also unequivocally condemns the use of hunger as a method of war and the illicit denial of humanitarian assistance. The challenge now is to introduce these provisions into concrete results, turn them into concrete results. And in light of this reality, Chile is putting forward three priorities for us. First, the Council must act before a food crisis turns into a disaster. To achieve this, the council must have timely and verifiable information on the risks of famine or food insecurity, widespread food insecurity caused by conflict, and be able to respond quickly. because a warning that doesn't lead to early action loses a large part of its value. Second, the production of foodstuffs and supply chains for humanitarian aid must be protected. The parties to conflicts must adopt concrete agreements that guarantee the safe passage of food and agricultural inputs and humanitarian assistance, and also refrain from using control over supply routes as a tool of political or military pressure. Thirdly, to call for responsibility, accountability, when there is a deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid. This must not be left without consequences and those responsible must be investigated in an independent, swift and impartial manner. Finally, Madam President, food insecurity is not only a consequence of war. It can also become a multiplying factor of instability and a threat to peace. Chile therefore calls for a response based on the law and effective action because food should be used to sustain life and it should never become a weapon of war nor an instrument of political pressure. Thank you very much. Thank you,

representative of Chile, for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Madam President, thank you for your leadership in convening this crucial debate. Germany endorses the statements of the European Union and the Group of Friends on Action on Conflict and Hunger. And we also thank the Secretary General, acting WFP Executive Director Skou, and the representative of civil society for their statements today. The situation is dire. In 2025, 266 million people suffered from acute food insecurity. Millions more are at risk due to ongoing conflicts. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to disrupt global grain supplies. Targeted attacks on civilian cargo ships, port terminals, and grain silos in Ukraine have virtually brought grain exports to a standstill. And despite this, Russia recently rejected a Ukrainian proposal to halt attacks on Black Sea shipping. In Sudan, Millions are threatened by the obstruction of humanitarian aid by the conflict parties and repeated attacks on humanitarian workers and infrastructure. Furthermore, we remain deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. We call once again for immediate and unimpeded access and the sustained distribution of large-scale humanitarian aid. In light of these challenges, I would like to highlight three points. First, Security Council Resolution 2417 obliges all parties to armed conflict to comply with international humanitarian law. Civilian infrastructure must be protected. This is critical for the delivery of aid and the functioning of food systems. Second, freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law and is inseparable from food security. Global food security must not be held hostage by military action. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has negatively impacted the global economy and poses a serious threat to food security. We urge Iran to immediately and unconditionally reopen the Strait and ensure free, safe and toll-free passage for all vessels in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. Germany welcomes the joint UN efforts to establish a technical solution for a fertilizer export mechanism and calls upon all relevant actors to support this pragmatic first step for immediate relief. And third, structural vulnerabilities demand structural answers. Low income and import dependent countries are paying the highest price of all these crises, and we must all integrate prevention, preparedness, resilience, and timely response much better. In this vein, and with the goal to support transition to a system that better aligns stakeholders, priorities, and financing, and strengthens anticipatory action, Germany is taking action and working with partners and offers to work together. Beyond providing nearly US$300 million for immediate global food needs, we are now allocating US$35 million to boost local fertilizer production. Through our hydrogen diplomacy program, we are promoting green fertilizer for carbon free agricultural sectors. And we would like to highlight this at the African Green Hydrogen Summit in September in Cape Town. We're scaling up our development cooperation to support smallholder producers and climate adapted production. We are championing international efforts and have designated resilient food systems as the main subject of the International Conference of Agriculture Ministers that we are holding in January 2027 with a global forum for food and agriculture. And finally, and more immediately, Germany will host a high-level side event during the upcoming high-level week under the title United Against Hunger, realigning global action for food crises in times of disruption. Madam President, colleagues, ensuring food security, especially in conflict situations, and the resilience of the global food system are global security priorities. They must therefore become, remain a top priority for the Security Council and I'm grateful for this debate today. Thank you very much.

Representative of Germany for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan, sorry.

Madam President, at the outset allow me to express our appreciation to Denmark for convening today's open debate. and for drawing attention to the link between armed conflict, hunger and international security. We also thank the Secretary-General and the briefers for their briefing. The Kyrgyz Republic shares the concern over the continued impact of armed conflict on food security and supports the consistent implementation of Security Council resolution 2417. Recent experience shows that the consequences of the conflicts extend far beyond the areas directly affected by fighting disruptions to supplies of food, fertilizers and energy interruptions along land and maritime routes and higher transport costs and prices have a particularly serious impact on vulnerable and import dependent countries. For the Kyrgyz Republic as a mountainous landlocked country, these risks are of particular importance. Reliable transport and logistic corridors, stable external supplies, and a resilient national agricultural sector are directly linked to food security and social stability. In this regard, the Kyrgyz Republic attaches particular importance to strengthening early warning mechanisms. The Security Council should have timely and objective information on emerging food security risks and take such risk into account when assessing crisis situations. The earlier the risk of serious shortages or supply disruptions is identified, the greater the opportunity to prevent a situation from developing into a large scale humanitarian crisis. Kyrgyzstan's national experience shows that regular monitoring of production, stock, imports and prices helps identify possible shortages and early stage and allows measures to be taken before the situation reaches a critical point. At the international level, this requires close cooperation between the Security Council, FAO, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other relevant organizations, with full respect for their respective mandates. It is equally important to protect the foundations of food security. The Kyrgyz Republic reaffirms the importance of compliance by all parties with applicable international humanitarian law and protecting civilians and objects indispensable for their survival. Damage to agricultural production, irrigation systems, storage and processing facilities, as well as transport and energy infrastructure can further worsen the humanitarian consequences of conflict and make recovery more difficult. At the same time, food crisis cannot be prevented through emergency response alone. We must also strengthen the resilience of national food systems. Kyrgyzstan's experience shows the importance of regular food security monitoring, support for agricultural production, improved irrigation infrastructure, wider use of water-saving technologies, and stronger storage and processing capacity.

International technical and financial support for such measures.

Is particularly important for vulnerable and import dependent countries, including landlocked developing countries. In this context, the situation in Afghanistan is particularly important to Kyrgyzstan. Persistent food insecurity in Afghanistan is not only a humanitarian concern, its consequences can affect economic and social stability and more broadly, the resilience of our region, Central Asia. Madam President, Kyrgyzstan believes that the international community should move consistently from responding to food crises to preventing them. The Security Council can make an important contribution by taking preventive action, making effective use of early warning mechanisms, international law, the good offices of the Secretary-General, and close coordination with the specialized agencies of the United Nations system. The Kyrgyz Republic stands ready to contribute to collective efforts to build food systems that are more resilient, equitable and better protected from crisis.

Thank you.

Thank you, representative of Kyrgyzstan, for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Iceland.

Madam President, let me thank the Danish Presidency for convening this timely discussion. I have the honor to speak today on behalf of the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Iceland. Hunger and armed conflict are deeply interconnected. Conflicts destroy agricultural production, disrupt supply chains, lead to forced displacement, and undermine livelihoods, while food insecurity and competition over scarce resources can feed instability and fuel violence. At the same time, climate change acts as both a catalyst and a threat multiplier, intensifying these pressures and further heightening the risk of conflict. The global food security implications of armed conflicts are clear. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has disrupted agricultural production and trade from one of the world's key grain producing regions, contributing to volatility in food and fertilizer markets and affecting vulnerable populations far beyond the conflict zone. Instability affecting major trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, underscores the fragility of global food systems. Disruptions to energy supplies and maritime transport increase costs throughout the food value chain, placing additional pressure on import dependent countries and exacerbating food insecurity among civilians, as seen for instance in Sudan. Addressing food insecurity requires both immediate humanitarian action and sustained efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts. The Security Council must live up to its charter enshrined duty to uphold international peace and stability. Collectively, we must uphold international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and guarantee safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. Madam President, Council resolution 2417 prohibits the use of starvation as a weapon of war and provides a solid basis for addressing conflict-induced hunger. It requires, however, stronger operationalization so that it can better respond to the realities of food insecurity on the ground. We encourage the Council to consider restrictive measures and make active use of its early warning mechanisms in line with the provisions in 2417, including through clear timeframes for action. If violations occur, the Council must act to ensure accountability. Madam President, where conflict drives hunger, predictable, flexible and adequate funding to immediate humanitarian efforts is needed, as well as support to resilient and sustainable food systems. We support the implementation of the humanitarian reset and efforts to enhance effectiveness, ensure that limited resources reach those most in need and strengthen local ownership while upholding humanitarian principles and the broader humanitarian mandate. The impact of conflict on food security are felt particularly by people in vulnerable situations, including children. In conflict zones, school meals provide many children with their only meal of the day, ensuring access to nutritious food while supporting stability and the continuity of education during conflict. In closing, breaking the vicious cycle of conflict and hunger must remain a priority for the international community and high on the agenda of this Council. I thank you.

Iceland for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Madam President, I thank the Danish Presidency for convening this important and timely debate on food under fire, a matter that is directly linked to international peace and security. My delegation is also grateful to the high-level briefers for their compelling appeals. Before proceeding with my statement, I cannot let pass without response the deeply misleading claims and accusations we have heard this morning from the Russian representative. As William Shakespeare would elegantly put it, the lady does protest too much, methinks. Ordinary people, however, would rather say the guilty dog barks the loudest. Allow me to set the record straight and put the facts into the proper perspective. Let me remind this Council that it was Russia that unleashed a full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine in February 22 and imposed an unlawful naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. Let me also recall this Council that it is Ukraine that has been and remains one of the biggest producers of grain, providing food for almost half a billion people worldwide. Around 90% of our agricultural produce used to be exported through our Black Sea ports, amounting to tens of millions of tons of grain and feeding markets in the global south. Hence, it was precisely this reckless criminal acts by Russia's Navy in the Black Sea that placed global food security in jeopardy and pushed many countries around the globe to the brink of famine. Madam President, allow me also to remind this Council that thanks to the diplomatic efforts of UN Security General, Secretary General and our partners, we were able to launch the Black Sea Grain Initiative in summer 22 and restore commercial shipping. And yet in July 23, just one year after, It was Russia again that unilaterally walked away from this vital initiative, destabilizing international food supplies for the most vulnerable countries in the global south. Let me also draw the Council's attention to the fact that Russia has systematically attacked Ukraine's agricultural and port infrastructure, grain terminals and storage facilities, as well as maritime routes. Russia's Navy has mined sea lanes and repeatedly attacked civilian vessels to undermine Ukraine's export capacity. Over the past four and a half years, Russia has destroyed over a thousand port infrastructure facilities, a thousand, and attacked over 230 civilian vessels sailing to or from Ukraine's ports. As a result, since July 2026, since a month Ukraine has once again been blocked by Russia that brought and destroyed freedom of navigation in the Black Sea brought it to a standstill though it was a massive and deliberate attack which is nothing short of deplorable war crimes and there is no justification no justification for such criminal actions by the Russian Federation we therefore call upon the Security Council and all member states of the UN to respond with strong political pressure and economic sanctions aimed at stopping Russia's terror and protecting millions of consumers across the planet. Madam President, despite this truly critical situation in the Black Sea for global food security, a deja vu of the spring of 2022, Ukraine has nonetheless taken a new diplomatic initiative and put concrete proposals to the Russian side. Sadly, Moscow has so far rejected this constructive offer, just as it has rejected Ukraine's outstretched hand in pursuit of an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. But Ukraine's diplomacy will not relent, and we urge this Council and the Secretary-General to take every possible step to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Madam President, I want you all to understand the true price of the grain of wheat harvested by Ukrainian farmers under Russian fire, while at this very moment as we speak, Russian drones are intentionally, intentionally targeting the very combine harvesters working in the fields of Ukraine. Besides, Russia is also systematically stealing On a massive scale, our grain from the temporary occupied territory of Ukraine, last year alone, over two million tons of Ukrainian grain worth 400 million US dollars were illegally expropriated and subsequently exported to foreign markets, including through the so-called shadow grain fleet. Stolen Ukrainian agricultural products must be seized and not legitimized. We call on international organizations and all UN member states to address this burning issue. Complicity in this illicit trade only sustains aggression. Madam President, irrespective of all the challenges, Ukraine continues to contribute to global food security. In 2022, as the war began, we launched the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine. With the assistance of our partners, more than 330 tons of Ukrainian food have already reached 20 countries, in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America, those facing acute food crisis. In this respect, our cooperation with the food and agriculture organizations and the World Food Programme is of strategic importance, helping to ensure that our food reaches those who need it most and to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable countries. Madam President, to conclude, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated that when food, agricultural production and trade routes are deliberately attacked, the consequences do not remain local. They threaten international peace and security. And resolution 2417 provides an important framework for action. Ukraine stands ready to work with all the partners to ensure that food remains a means of sustaining life, stability and peace. and shall never, ever be weaponised. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Ukraine for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Thank you, Madam President. Italy fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add some further remarks in its national capacity. First of all, we thank Denmark for organising this timely event during its Security Council Presidency. The issue of conflict related food insecurity is of great importance at this juncture and the top priority for Italy. We are concerned by the escalating global food crisis where protected harm and conflicts and systemic disruptions to supply chains continue to drive millions into acute hunger. By formally linking conflict with hunger and explicitly condemning the weaponization of food as a potential war crime, Resolution 2417 marks a watershed that fundamentally reshaped the international normative framework governing the protection of civilians. However, eight years after its anonymous adoption, compliance remains insufficient and the critical gap persists between this landmark text and its operationalization on the ground. The human cost of this implementation gap is stark. This year's report on the protection of civilians from the Secretary General's office points to a deeply alarming scenario, with more than 147 million people facing acute food insecurity caused by conflict, while populations in Gaza and Sudan are enduring extreme conditions of malnutrition and poverty, in both cases induced by conflict. Italy's humanitarian initiatives highlight our commitment to safeguarding civilians and sustaining food systems in such conflict-affected areas, where food security has traditionally been one of our main areas of intervention. With our Food for Gaza initiative, we delivered approximately 2,400 tons of food, medical and relief supplies to the Gaza Strip, working together in an integrated manner with the private sector and civil society organizations and in close coordination with international organizations such as the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Building on that experience, in the similar spirit, Italy has launched Italy for Sudan. to deliver much needed aid to the population. In Ukraine, we have consistently supported the Kiev authorities on the WFP with the Grain from Ukraine initiative, which assists the country in its grain production and export capacity, mitigating the ramifications of Russia's aggression, which go well beyond Ukraine's borders. Because of the conflict in the state of Hormuz, we assist to yet a new kind of food crisis with the ramifications so global that they would be unprecedented. Famine risks loom over a number of countries as fertilizer shortages and rising fuel prices threaten to push tens of millions more people into acute food insecurity. The FAO has highlighted that disruptions in the streets have already affected the movement of oil, liquefied natural gas, sulfur and fertilizers, leading to higher agricultural input costs worldwide. Italy is working closely with FAO and recognizes the important role of its agricultural market information system A platform now focused also on fertilizers markets aimed at strengthening transparency in periods of heightened volatility and uncertainty. Furthermore, Italy is instrumental, as was instrumental together with Croatia in launching the Rome Coalition on Fertilizer Access and Food Security. initiative within the MED9 framework last May. Madam President, Italy fully supports Security Council resolution 2417, but the green data about conflict-driven acute food insecurity underscores, unfortunately, that this landmark resolution has yet to fully deliver on its objectives. Italy stands ready to help bridge this gap and to work to transform its commitments into more robust monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms, integrating the contribution of the Rome-based agencies UN agencies that remain at the heart of global efforts to make food system more resilient, sustainable and inclusive. As host country, Italy keeps investing in strengthening and improving the effectiveness of the Rome-based US agency's governance and we stand ready to contribute even more activity to its leadership in the years ahead. The nexus between conflict and food security remains us, however, that the Security Council should not only react to local crisis, where food insecurity is driven by conflict, but also assess whether partners in order to prevent conflict from disrupting global food supplies. To be up to this task, the council has to evolve. In this vein, Italy actively supports a comprehensive reform of the Security Council within the AGM framework and acknowledges the urgent need for such reform. We stand ready to work with all Member States to achieve a more accountable, representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective and democratic Security Council. We shall endeavour to be flexible and open to ideas for how to achieve that outcome and encourage others to do the same, being open and flexible. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Italy for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Qatar.

Madam President, we congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Council and welcome the chairing of His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark of this important debate. We also thank the SG and all BIFARs for their valuable contributions. Madam President, eight years after the adoption of resolution 2417, Armed conflicts remain one of the primary drivers of food insecurity. They destroy food systems, disrupt trade and energy flows, they close transportation routes and impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, hunger exacerbates instability. Therefore, we need to ensure compliance with the prohibition of the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and to protect objects indispensable for their survival. In recent years, the world has witnessed numerous cases of food insecurity, including situations approaching famine. The Gaza Strip is a clear example of what armed conflicts can lead to in terms of humanitarian suffering. The State of Qatar continues its role in facilitating the implementation of the comprehensive peace plan in Gaza and the ceasefire agreement, which it helped broker together with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States and the Republic of Turkey. We stress the necessity of ensuring the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of aid throughout the Gaza Strip. Qatar also reiterates the urgent need for the full implementation of the comprehensive plan endorsed by resolution 2803 of the Council as a pathway toward ending the war, advancing reconstruction, and achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace based on the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the two-state solution. Madam President, developments in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate how conflict can affect global food security. The continued closure of this trade threatens the vital interest of countries in the region as well as the global economy. Disruptions to maritime trade increases cost and impact of on fertilizers and food markets, while import dependent countries and the most vulnerable nations bear the heaviest burden. The state of Qatar affirms that freedom of navigation through this vital waterway is a well established principle that is not subject to compromise. We stress the importance of restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law and Security Council resolution 2817. Qatar's priority is to contain escalation and reopen the space for diplomatic efforts. Accordingly, the State of Qatar, as a contributor to mediation efforts, seeks to reopen the Strait as soon as possible. The State of Qatar further emphasizes that any future arrangements concerning the management of the Strait or related issues should be based on regional consensus and on a full respect for international law, thereby preserving the security and stability of the region. Madam President, the state of Qatar has reiterated its commitment to global food security by providing support aimed at alleviating the burden for civilians and strengthening the resilience of communities, including in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere. These efforts complement Qatar's humanitarian assistance and its initiatives designed to enhance the resilience of countries vulnerable to food insecurity. In this regard, the State of Qatar will continue to cooperate with its partners across the UN system to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflicts and to support food systems. At the same time, it will continue to play an active role in addressing the root causes through preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, the peaceful settlement of disputes and peacebuilding. Thank you, President.

That's our further statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Austria.

Madam President, Excellencies, colleagues, numbers speak volumes in the case of food insecurity. According to the 2026 Global Report on Food Crisis, 266 million people in 47 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, an increase of 153% since 2016. Conflict and insecurity remain the main drivers of hunger. Allow me to raise three points. First, the sooner we know, the faster we can act. Preventing starvation and hunger in the first place must be our primary goal. By reinforcing the mechanisms under resolution 2417, the Security Council could strengthen proactive approaches and anticipatory action. One way to do so would be by ensuring regular reporting by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on issues related to food insecurity and conflicts to the Security Council, or by establishing a dedicated focal point to monitor the implementation of resolution 2417. In doing so, it would be important to not only focus on food availability, but also on potential systemic risks to food systems, like disruptions to energy and fertilizer supplies or transport routes. Second, on the interlinkages between food security, climate and conflicts. Climate change, extreme weather events and increasingly recurring natural disasters are a driver of hunger as well as a threat multiplier. Sustainable development, humanitarian efforts and peace operations are also severely impacted. Effective early warning and monitoring for extreme weather events and other factors impacting food security requires reliable data and evidence-based analysis. Technologies such as AI or satellite imaging already play an important role in this regard, which should be further strengthened. We also welcome the work of the Climate Security Mechanism. which has been instrumental in building UN system-wide capacity on the nexus of climate and security. And third, on the respect for international humanitarian law. While hunger and food insecurity are a catastrophe on their own, human suffering increases even more when humanitarian access is not guaranteed and international law is not respected. The Security Council can and should play an essential role in ensuring the protection of civilians, the respect for IHL and accountability for perpetrators. Civilians must never be deprived of access to food and other essentials as a method of warfare, and humanitarian personnel must be able to deliver life-saving assistance without obstruction. The full and effective protection of humanitarian workers and the humanitarian space is essential. Madam President, Excellencies, Let me end by assuring you that Austria is doing and will continue to do its part as a reliable and predictable partner in addressing and preventing food insecurity, both as an incoming member of the Security Council and through European and national efforts. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Austria for the statement and I give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Madam President. First of all, we wish to thank Denmark for convening this important debate and to welcome the comprehensive briefing also by the Secretary-General. We also thank WFP and Action Against Hunger for their respective presentations. Eight years after resolution 2417, conflicts continue to be the leading driver of acute hunger in the world. with alarming figures of hundreds of millions of people facing acute food insecurity and multiple conflict-driven famines occurring simultaneously. Food insecurity is not only a humanitarian consequence of conflict, it is itself a driver of instability, displacement and violent extremism, and a matter of international peace and security. Yet, the Council is not starting from a legal vacuum. Resolution 2417 confirmed the link between armed conflicts and hunger, condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and in its operative paragraph nine called for consideration of targeted measures against those who divert or obstruct humanitarian assistance. Therefore, the normative tools the Council need already exist in the resolutions early warning architecture. The real gap is about translating early warning into early preventive action. On mitigation, three elements are essential. First, protecting the routes and infrastructure that keep food moving. We support the full use of the Secretary-General's good offices to help preserve civilian food supply corridors, land and maritime alike, and keep import-dependent countries connected to markets. Second, investing in the resilience of local food systems so that countries are not solely dependent on the durability of global supply chains in times of crisis. This is the logic behind Morocco's own approach. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has made the socioeconomic development of rural areas and investment in agriculture key levers of stability. Morocco launched the continental AAA initiative for the adaptation of African agriculture and the SSS initiative for sustainability, stability and security through agriculture. For decades, Morocco has also supplied millions of tons of fertilizers adapted to African soils, reaching some 44 million farmers in 35 African countries, in addition to several million tons of fertilizers delivered to other developing countries around the world. Third, sustaining these efforts once the guns fall silent. The Peacebuilding Commission has a natural role to play in embedding food security in peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts through context-specific, locally owned solutions that respect local realities. This is what Morocco aspires to put forward in its capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. Madam President, in conclusion, Morocco believes the Council's task now is to move from recognition to prevention, strengthening early warning protection food and trade corridors from geopolitical shocks and building the long term resilience of food systems through climate smart agriculture. cross-border trade and policies that protect the most vulnerable, including women and children. Morocco stand ready to contribute to these collective efforts. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Morocco for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Malta.

Madam President, Malta thanks the Danish Presidency as well as the briefers for their insightful presentation. We also align ourselves with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The 2026 global report on food crises and the Secretary-General's report on the protection of civilians lay bare the alarming reality that hunger remains both a driver and a consequence of armed conflict. The crisis of conflict-induced food insecurity is further aggravated by economic volatility and climate shocks. Madam President, through the UN Charter, the international community pledged to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Preventing conflict-induced starvation is central to that pledge. Today, in our interconnected globalized economy, the impacts of conflict reach far beyond the immediate theater of hostilities. Disruptions to critical waterways, attacks on civilian vessels, and food price inflation are catastrophic for import-dependent economies. This vulnerability is compounded by the climate crisis, which will no doubt place many more lives at risk. The developing El Nino will imperil global farming yields. Meanwhile, accelerating extreme weather events disrupt critical port infrastructure functionality, which are lifelines for small island states. Madam President, through General Assembly Resolution 4353, Malta introduced the notion of common concern of humankind. Acute food insecurity is rapidly becoming a concern for all humanity. In the spirit of our historical legacy as nurse of the Mediterranean, we call on all parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law. We emphasize that resolution 2417 must be complied with. Its application extends even when the consequences of conflict are felt far beyond immediate hostilities. Furthermore, we condemn attacks on civilian vessels and crew, particularly the recent attacks on Maltese flagged vessel MT Kavomaleas whilst exercising the right of transit passage. Under the Geneva Convention and in line with resolutions 2417 and 2573, targeting civilian shipping and objects indispensable to the survival of civilian populations constitutes a grave breach of international law. Malta welcomes UN efforts to maintain the flow of essential food and agricultural imports through strategic waterways in conflict areas and recognizes the important work of FAO, WFP, IFAD, the World Bank and the wider UN system in addressing food insecurity. Madam President, to address the conflict hunger nexus, we must prioritize two structural actions. First, We must link early warning mechanisms to timely anticipatory action. Second, we must invest in building resilient, inclusive and equitable agri-food systems through community-centred approaches that withstand the triple shocks of conflict, economic volatility and climate change. Peace remains the only sustainable option so that present and future generations are saved not only from the scourge of war, but also from the scourge of hunger. Thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

Madam President, just four years before the deadline established to fulfil the 2030 Agenda, we're far from achieving SDG 2, zero hunger. According to the 2026 UN report on the SDGs, an estimate of 646 million people are facing chronic malnutrition, or were in 2025, 7.8% of the world's population. Even in this context, We are seeing a rapid decrease in ODA while we're seeing a persistent trend in increase in military expenditure that in 2025 reached the record figure of $2.9 trillion. If there were genuine concern to reduce hunger, poverty, and achieve sustainable development without leaving anybody behind, then the arms race needs to stop. There's huge investments in sophisticated artifacts to kill and instead there should be focus on development and cooperation to reduce the use of force. The supposed doctrine of peace through strength only fuels tensions and doesn't deal with the root causes of conflict like inequalities, the legacy of colonialism. unbridled neoliberalism and the undermining of the just international order, foreign interference, policies of domination and the violation of the principles and norms of international law. It's essential for the Security Council to fully fulfill its mandate to maintain international peace and security, strictly respecting the United Nations Charter without double standards or interference in other bodies, in particular in the General Assembly. In an interconnected world, each conflict contributes to entrenching the multiple crises that humanity faces and that civilians bear the brunt of destroying civilian infrastructure, people's livelihoods, interrupting supply chains and affecting the production of food and essential inputs for agricultural production, among other consequences. We wouldn't be doing justice to the title of this debate without referring to the grave situation in Palestine, whose population, in particular women and girls, are still condemned to hunger due to the genocidal actions of Israel that has benefited from impunity, enabling them to have the unlimited diplomatic, financial and military backing of the United States of America, hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid, including foodstuffs and the Ongoing usage of hunger as a method of war by Israel is in line with the systemic policy of occupation and collective punishment that seeks to lead to the extermination of the Palestinians. We also can't ignore the situation of Western Sahara. The consequences of the protracted Moroccan occupation have contributed to entrenching the humanitarian needs of the Sahrawi population, including their access to safe food. We need more population support to the Syrian people and at the same time the implementation of resolutions and decisions of the UN on this matter. Madam President, Cuba is facing a multidimensional war from the government of the United States. The economic, trade and financial embargo has been strengthened to extreme levels such as the brutal energy siege that has lasted more than six months and other unilateral coercive measures against people, companies and entities from Cuba. As a result, they are impeding Cuba's access to fuel and blocking ships and containers, making it difficult for us to access food, medication, fertilizer, machinery and agricultural inputs, including those acquired by the private sector. The shortage of fuel has caused difficulties for electricity generation, the provision of water and essential services, transport, supply chains, production, processing and the storage and distribution of foodstuffs and medications and is hindering the smooth functioning of critical infrastructure such as hospitals and emergency services. We are looking at this genocidal policy that is collective punishment against the Cuban people. And there's also the constant threat of direct military intervention by the United States and the unpredictable consequences for peace and security, both in our hemisphere as well as internationally, have been warned about many times at this Council. Madam President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, warned at the World Food Summit in 1996 that the campaigns that we're seeing today where people are dying from hunger each day will double for the whole of humanity if humanity wasn't wise enough or didn't want to act to save itself. A new world order based on equity, justice and peace cannot be postponed. We need to fulfil the collective promise that we made to not leave anybody behind. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Madam President, I wish to thank Denmark for convening this timely debate. Poland aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union. A strong focus on famine and conflict-induced global food insecurity is now of crucial importance. Hunger is increasingly being used as a weapon of war. Poland attaches great importance to prevention in humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts. Investing in resilience, infrastructure, promoting economic and sustainable growth, good governance and democracy, meeting the sustainable development goals. These are the cornerstones of enhancing the protection of civilians long term. Efficient early warning mechanisms are crucial to counter and mitigate humanitarian and food security crises with focus on safeguarding critical civilian infrastructure. including agricultural lands, water systems and supply chains. Another important aspect is to ensure unhindered safe access for humanitarian aid and personnel in vulnerable areas. Political action, including within the Security Council, should be taken at the speed of relevance. It is the responsibility of the members of the Council, with support of other UN Member States, to counter the weaponization or politicization of food security. In this context, data from specialized organizations and UN programs such as FAO, WFP, OCHA or UNICEF could be used in a more systematic way. We see room for expanding Council's cooperation with regional and international organizations to keep vital routes open during conflicts. It could support arrangements protecting ports, shipping lanes, grain corridors, agricultural infrastructure and humanitarian supply chains. When it comes to the question how to secure more resilient food systems and how to mitigate the impact of future geopolitical shocks, we recommend to promote the humanitarian development and peace nexus, including by pairing emergency funding with asset building, to strengthen regional cooperation. Reliable organizations can coordinate cross-border food corridors, custom procedures, emergency grain reserves, and refugee hosting arrangements. to support sustainable agriculture by promoting climate smart agriculture, supporting digital and technical innovation, building smallholder empowerment and direct support to local farmers, and to look for new partners for cooperation, including with the private sector. In conclusion, let me suggest that the Security Council focus more on cross-cutting topics and the complex nature of contemporary threats to peace and security. Food security, as discussed today, but also protection of civilians in armed conflicts, all the detrimental effects of climate change or environment and security. as well as man made disasters should feature regularly on the Council's agenda. I thank you. I.

Thank the representative of Poland for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Sudan.

Madam President, at the outset.

We thank the Kingdom of Denmark for convening this very important session as the world witnesses unprecedented increase in armed conflict closely interlinked to food insecurity. We welcome the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and we thank the Secretary General and the briefers for their important input. President, Sudan has welcomed the adoption by the Council of Resolution 2417 as a historic milestone reaffirming the right to food as a fundamental human right. It underlined the close interlinkages between armed conflict and hunger and the prohibition of the use of food as a weapon of war as a real threat to international peace and security. My country therefore wishes to make an important and fundamental legal distinction that should not be ignored between starvation and famine. Famine may be a result of drought, natural conflicts or climate change. Starvation is deliberate. It is man-made. And it occurs through various means, including the imposing of blockades and the deprivation of food and medicine to achieve political and military goals. And this is the behavior that was condemned by the resolution and which under certain circumstances constitutes a crime of war that requires accountability under IHL. President, the Sudan today is a testament to such violations. We do not deny nor make little of the suffering plaguing our people. Millions have been forcibly displaced. Levels of food security have deteriorated in Darfur and other regions of Kordofan. These regions are all under militia control. We stress that this suffering is not a result of natural disasters, nor an outcome of climate change or economic factors. It is a direct outcome of the war of aggression and the use by militias of blockades against cities and villages, as well as the deprivation of people from food and medication, humanitarian assistance, and the plundering of fields and stockpiles, attacks against farmers, and the disruption of the agricultural season. And this proves that what happens in militia-controlled areas is systematic starvation and not famine. and this is closely aligned with its record of violations elsewhere president the Sudan has or is amongst the countries with the biggest agricultural production capacities in Africa and the Arab world. It is capable of contributing to regional food security. Despite the challenges of war, it has managed to succeed in its agricultural farming season. And it has, in the past year, ensured great production of corn with an excess of 13.2%, a share of which was bought by the WFP. And this proves that food security is not an issue of agricultural protection, but rather lack of access due to terrorist militia control. This year, arable land to be exploited is estimated at 30 million hectares after the return of security to North Kordofan and other states, which we will use in order to respond to the deficit and other crop yields. The Sudan will not go hungry, Madam President. and food security in the Sudan is not merely an issue of national interest, but rather a true investment regionally and internationally. We wish to express our reservations over the report of the IPC, as we believe that the international resolution in this regard must be built on accurate information and away from politicization. These reports have not been based on accurate field information, but rather on remote analysis. The classification was done based on reasonable incomplete evidence, which shows lack of accurate data. And this can be attributed to a reason that is known to you all, the lack of access to militia controlled areas. These reservations are not aimed at making little of the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, but rather we seek to reserve our right to be protected from politicization and the use of humanitarian data on food security. Despite the war of aggression, we've continued our efforts to ensure the opening of humanitarian crossings, including the Adra crossing despite security reservations. We've made efforts to provide emergency funding to food programs, and we've widened the scope of malnutrition treatment programs, and we've provided humanitarian and food assistance through airdrops. We've provided agricultural inputs and we've increased our cooperation with relief agencies and international organizations, even under exceptional circumstances, which proves our national will to achieve food security and self-sufficiency. President, achieving food security requires collective action to prevent wars and respect state sovereignty and hold those who use food as a weapon of war accountable. It requires ending support to terrorist militias. In this regard, we stress our commitment to international cooperation to achieve food security, protect civilians, and achieve durable peace. In conclusion, President, I wish to remind your council that civilians in the Sudan are not dying due to drought nor poverty. They are dying because a terrorist militia backed by regional powers have deprived them from food deliberately and that the international community has not acted in order to put this crime to a halt. History will not show you mercy if you stand idly by. International law will not show you mercy if you do not protect these civilians. This is not a complaint, but rather a legal call to end this crime and hold the militias and their backers accountable so that the Sudanese resilient people be able to live in dignity and security in their own country. I thank you, President.

I thank the representative of Sudan for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Madam President. Zimbabwe thanks Denmark for convening this important debate. We also want to thank the Secretary-General and other briefers for their valuable insights. Food Under Fire captures a cruel reality of modern conflict. When war disrupts farms, markets, roads and ports, it creates conditions in which hunger can spread insecurity within communities, across borders and through global markets. Yet hunger should never be regarded as an unavoidable consequence of conflict. With timely action, its worst effects can and must be prevented. Security Council resolution 2417 recognized the close relationship between armed conflict and food insecurity. The latest FAO WFP Hunger Hotspots report identifies conflict or violence as the primary driver in 12 of 13 hotspots. The challenge therefore is no longer simply to recognize this relationship, but to act upon it. Council must help prevent conflict from creating the conditions in which acute hunger and famine can take hold. Against this background, Zimbabwe wishes to underline four priorities. First, we must act earlier. The Security Council should make better use of early warnings from the Secretary-General, FAO, WFP, humanitarian actors, and regional organizations. Crucially, early warning must lead to early action through preventative diplomacy, mediation, and political solutions before hunger drives displacement and instability. Prevention loses its meaning when the alarm is raised only after the granary is empty. Second, we must protect civilians and the systems that sustain civilian life. Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited and should stand prohibited. Parties to conflict must comply with international humanitarian law and protect farms, livestock, water systems, storage facilities, markets, transport networks, and supply routes. Humanitarian access must remain safe, rapid, and unimpeded. Sanctions regimes should include effective humanitarian exemptions, and avoid unintended obstacles to food, agricultural inputs, and relief operations. The Secretary-General's good offices can also help secure practical arrangements to protect humanitarian corridors and critical land and maritime food supply routes. Such measures can save lives while creating space for political dialogue. Third, the Security Council must look beyond the battlefield. Conflict does not confine its consequences to the battlefield. Its effects reach households through higher prices of fuel, fertilizer, transport, and food. Landlocked and food import-dependent countries, especially developing countries, are particularly exposed. The Security Council should therefore take account of these wider repercussions and ensure that measures adopted in response to conflict do not deepen civilian vulnerability. Fourth, emergency relief must be matched by long-term resilience. Given the case of Zimbabwe, we are advancing climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, digital early warning systems, storage and value addition to strengthen domestic production and rural livelihoods. Across Africa, the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program and Agenda 2063 provide a foundation for raising productivity, expanding agro-industrialization and strengthening regional trade. These efforts require predictable financing, affordable agricultural inputs, technology transfer and reliable access to regional and global markets. Stronger cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union, and sub-regional organizations is equally essential to connect conflict prevention, humanitarian action, and recovery. Our collective objective must be greater African food sovereignty and resilience. At the same time, Zimbabwe cautions against the indiscriminate securitization of food insecurity. Not every food crisis belongs to the Council's agenda. Poverty, climate change, debt distress, and structural development challenges require sustained action by the institutions mandated to address them. Where armed conflict causes hunger, obstructs humanitarian relief, or threatens food systems, international peace and security, however, the Council must both has both the responsibility and the tools to act. Madam President, ultimately, the measure of our success should not be how efficiently we deliver food after livelihoods have collapsed, but how effectively we prevent conflict from destroying the conditions that enable human people to feed themselves. Peace cannot take root where families live in fear, of both violence and hunger. Protecting food systems in times of war is therefore inseparable from protecting peace itself. Zimbabwe stands ready to work with all partners towards that objective. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Zimbabwe for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein.

Thank you so much for the floor, Madam President. Addressing questions of food security is indeed core to the mandate of the Security Council. We thank the World Food Programme for their briefing and note its contribution to the humanitarian arm of the UN's work. Without clear and concerted action by the Council, we may see a severe rise in food insecurity in the coming months. Indeed, the signs are already there. Let me briefly touch on challenges to production, transmission and provision. On food production, war of course disrupts agriculture, turning self-reliant producers of food into dependent consumers. Food prices soar, leading to shortages. Explosive remnants of war pollute water sources and contaminate bread basket countries. To give one example, Around 25% of Ukraine's territory is suspected of contamination. On this issue, we note important work of UNMAS amongst others. But both inside and outside situations of armed conflict, global heating is displacing farmers and herders, destroying livelihoods and upending food markets. The impending El Nino may in addition worsen these circumstances. When a disrupted climate means that food can no longer be produced, this is also a food security issue and one this Council should address at source. Madam President, once food is grown, it must be transmitted to where it is needed, alongside fertilisers and other important substances that enable food production. The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has inflated food prices across the world, pushing millions into poverty. For this, amongst many reasons, the conflict must end for good. We note that the UN has raised this alarm and note the work of the FAO amongst others. We also support the efforts to establish a UN task force to facilitate the safe passage of fertilizers and related raw materials for humanitarian purposes and urge these to continue despite the difficult circumstances. Finally, Food must never be restricted in conflict settings, but armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity in 12 out of 13 hunger hotspots identified by the WFP and FAO. Governments and armed groups over and over again have used food as a weapon of war, starving civilians as a means of presupposed leverage. Just last year, we saw conflict-related famine conditions in both Gaza and parts of Sudan. This is the first time in this century that two separate famines have been recorded simultaneously. In Gaza, we have seen Israeli officials order a complete siege in violation of international humanitarian law. The solution is simple, let aid in. There is no acceptable argument for starvation. We know that the intentional starvation of civilians is a war crime over which the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction, both in international and non-international armed conflict. Madam President, I wish to aid with a small aside. In 1944, reacting to reports that millions of people where in grave danger of famine as a result of the Second World War, a clinical study was run in the US, the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. The experiment sought to guide the light relief by better understanding the long-term effects of severe food restrictions and the effectiveness of rehabilitation on otherwise healthy adults. The results are harrowing. But perhaps most important is what they found after the formal end of the experiment. Many of the subjects were unable to retain a healthy relationship to food over the course of their lives. The lesson is this, severe food insecurity is not simply a matter of being hungry. And when it affects children, it is an attack on their future, depriving them of the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and reach their full potential. But for all those affected, hunger never truly goes away. We have enough food to feed the world. This Council, supported by this organisation, is capable of ensuring that we do so. Let us work urgently to that end. I thank you so much.

The representative of Liechtenstein for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Thank you, Madam President. We thank Denmark for convening this timely debate and the briefers for their valuable insights. The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report sends a sobering message. Global hunger may have declined for a third consecutive year, but 645 million people still live with chronic hunger. Also, conflicts remain the leading driver of acute food insecurity. In 2025, famine was confirmed in parts of Gaza and Sudan. For the first time in this century, famine conditions were recorded simultaneously in two separate crises. These were not unavoidable natural disasters. They were the consequences of political choices, of armed violence, of destroyed infrastructures, of restriction on humanitarian access and of failure to protect civilians. Madam President, resolution 2417 gave this Council a clear framework for action. Eight years later, the problem is not lack of information, it is too often lack of timely action. Moving forward, Porsche will highlight four priorities. First, we must act earlier. The council should make systematic use of early warning on conflict induced food insecurity. That information should feed into country specific discussions, mandate renewals, and the work on the protection of civilians. Early warning has little value if it does not lead to early action. Second, international humanitarian law must be upheld. Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited. Food systems must be protected and parties to conflict must allow and facilitate rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access. Violations must be documented. Sir, the council must act upstream. Modern conflicts have global impacts. They disrupt fertilizer supplies, energy flows, maritime routes, and humanitarian logistics. The council must continue to support the work of the Secretary General and the United Nations, such as Food and Agriculture Organization and preserving humanitarian and commercial supply routes, mitigating food insecurity, and improving the resilience of food systems. In particular, we commend the recent confidence building mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz through a task force led by UNOPS, as mentioned by the Secretary General in his initial remarks today. This initiative is another practical example of concrete, tailor-made and results-oriented action that delivers for the most vulnerable and works to mitigate the consequences of mounting disruptions. That is prevention in practice. and it is fully consistent with the logic of resolution 2417. Fourth, emergency action must be accompanied by sustained investment in resilience, diversifying supply chains and make food systems more inclusive and climate resilient. None of this is possible without predictable financing, precisely when humanitarian and development resources are under growing pressure. To conclude, Madam President, as an incoming Member of this Chamber, Portugal will work to keep conflict related food insecurity firmly within the Council's prevention and protection responsibilities. Hunger is not inevitable. Resolution 2417 gave this Council the tools. We need the political will to act early, consistently and decisively. I thank you.

Thank you for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.

Madam President, Nigeria expresses its appreciation to Denmark for convening this debate and thanks the UN Secretary-General and the representative of the World Food Programme for particularly highlighting in their briefings this morning the harsh realities of conflict-induced food crisis in many African countries. In resolution 2417, the council reiterated its commitment to address conflict-induced food insecurity, including famine, in situations of armed conflict. Eight years on, the gap between the moment a conflict begins to disrupt food systems and the moment the council, the secretariat or a sanctions committee actually acts still remains evident. Nigeria speaks to the important topic from experience. In the Lake Chad Basin, it is not import disruption or maritime choke points that have driven hunger, but the displacement of farmers and herders from their land by Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province, ISWAP. The loss of access to Lake Chad fishing grounds and the breakdown of seasonal migration routes between farming and grazing communities. The drivers the council discusses in relation to conflict-induced food insecurity are global. However, in the Lake Chad Basin and in the Sahel more broadly, they are local and no less severe. Any response the council builds must work at both scales. On that basis, Nigeria offers three specific proposals. First, on early warning, resolution 2417 reporting should be linked on a fixed timeline to the Council sanctions committees where a secretariat or a food and agricultural organization or World Food Program early warning flux conflict driven food insecurity in a sanction jurisdiction the relevant committee should be required to consider an expedited humanitarian exemption request within a time frame of working days rather than leaving the timeline to the committee's ordinary procedure the function exists, what is missing is a trigger that connects it automatically to the warning. Second, on the Secretary General's good offices, these have largely been used to negotiate cross-border trade and shipping corridors. Nigeria asks that they be extended explicitly to negotiating local access safe passage for farmers to their fields for herders along migratory heading routes and for fishing communities in Lake Chad in coordination with regional bodies including the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Economic Community of West African States A ceasefire that protects a port does not by itself protect a famine season. Nigeria is a case in point. Third, on mandate design. where a peacekeeping or political mission operates in a food insecure conflict affecting setting. A joint FAO WFP Secretariat food security briefing should be a standard input to the council ahead of mandate renewal or drawdown alongside the political and security assessment. Food security is currently treated as a humanitarian annex to these discussions rather than a factor in the mandate itself. Madam President, resolution 2417 will not close the gap between recognition and action on its own. It requires triggers, timelines and local reach. Nigeria stands ready to work with the Council members on each of these. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Nigeria for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, Her Excellency Ms. Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the Delegation to the UN.

Thank you, Madam President. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union 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. The full version will be uploaded on our website. And we thank you, Denmark, for convening this timely debate and thank the Secretary General, the Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme and Dr. Perrine Benoit representing the Coalition Against Conflict and Hunger for their important contributions earlier today. Eight years after the adoption of Resolution 2417, conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity. Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the recent escalations in the Middle East have further exposed the fragility of global food systems. Disruptions to maritime routes, energy markets, fertilizer supplies, trade flows, and humanitarian logistics reverberate across the globe and affect those already facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition, including import-dependent countries in fragile contexts. At the same time, the confirmation of famine conditions in parts of Gaza and Sudan in 2025 was a stark reminder that acute food insecurity is often the foreseeable consequence of conflict obstruction and disregard for international humanitarian law. Conflict-induced food insecurity is also worsening across Afghanistan, the DRC, Haiti, Lebanon, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, occupied Palestinian territories, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen. Madam President, resolution 2417 remains the Council's benchmark for preventing and addressing conflict driven hunger and must be fully implemented, including where wider patterns of conflict disrupt global food security. The EU underlines the need for full respect for international humanitarian law. Civilians and objects indispensable to their survival must be protected. Starvation as a method of warfare must be unequivocally condemned, and humanitarian access must be rapid, sustained and unimpeded. Early warning must lead to early action, based on independent analysis, including through the IPC, while new technologies, such as satellite imagery, can help document damage and support accountability where access is denied. Responses must also be better integrated across the humanitarian development peace nexus and grounded in local capacities. The EU supports life-saving assistance, resilience, localization and sustainable food systems, while recognizing that conflict-related food insecurity and malnutrition have differentiated and gendered impacts. The EU and its Member States remain reliable and principled partners as the world's largest collective humanitarian donor. Over the last four years, around one third of the EU humanitarian budget has been dedicated to emergency food assistance and nutrition, equivalent to about EUR 800 million annually. As set out in the EU joint communication on humanitarian aid, the EU plans to further step up the Team Europe approach in the response to food crises globally. Madam President, allow me to highlight three calls to action. First, we must strengthen humanitarian diplomacy to secure access, protect food supply routes, prevent further deterioration and instrumentalisation of food in warfare and attacks on humanitarian personnel, while also addressing the root causes of food crisis. This Council should make use of the tools contained in resolution 2417, including early warning and the SG's good offices. Second, violations of international humanitarian law should be systematically identified and forcefully condemned, and those responsible must be held accountable. Accountability must be pursued through national jurisdictions and, where applicable, through international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. Resolution 2417 also provides tools to consider sanctions measures against those obstructing humanitarian assistance. And third, we need stronger and more coherent political and financial support for the multilateral system and for front-line responders. This includes support to the UN, to local and national actors, and independent mechanisms such as the IPC. And this is also relevant in relation to disruptions to trade through the Strait of Hormuz, particularly on energy, fertiliser and other critical agricultural inputs. and the consequences for food security and humanitarian needs in vulnerable countries. Ongoing UNAD reform efforts should further help to make the system more effective and fit for purpose in responding to complex food crises. From the very start of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has sought to weaponize food and undermine global food security by blocking the Black Sea. Recently, it has intensified attacks against ports and commercial shipping, together with systematic strikes against inland logistics, warehouses and grain terminals. In response, since May 2022, the EU's solidarity lanes remain critical and have facilitated Ukraine's exports, including of grain and agricultural produce. The EU, acting jointly with its Member States, as well as other partners, is committed to supporting Ukraine to export grains as quickly as possible to alleviate pressures felt by the most vulnerable countries. And let me clarify, EU sanctions do not target trade, notably third country imports and exports in agricultural and food products, and the EU actively works to preserve the global flow of agriculture and food products. Madam President, conflict-driven hunger is preventable. And in conclusion, the Security Council must act earlier, speak more clearly and respond more decisively when conflicts put food security at risk. Protecting civilians from hunger is not only a humanitarian imperative, it's essential to the maintenance of international peace and security. The EU remains committed to working with the UN and all partners to uphold international law support those most in need, and advance a world in which food is never used as a method of warfare. And I thank you.

I thank her excellency Ms. Sampson for the statement. I now give the floor to Ms. Elise Nicole Muschkin, permanent observer and head of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the UN.

Thank you, Madam Chair, excellencies. Eight years after the adoption of Resolution 2417, conflict remains a leading driver of acute food insecurity. We see this firsthand across the ICRC's operations. Our teams see how hunger and armed conflict is often the cumulative consequence of actions and inactions over time. Security prevents farmers from reaching their fields. Markets are disrupted. Fuel shortages affect irrigation and transport, water and electricity systems deteriorate, affecting production and storage. Disruptions to digital connectivity also deepen food insecurity, impacting supply chains and payment systems. And too often, we see humanitarian access constrained or even deliberately obstructed. As food becomes harder to obtain and livelihoods disappear, people are forced to take greater risks and may resort to harmful coping mechanisms simply to feed themselves and their families. Hunger thus becomes both a consequence of conflict and a driver of future harm. Addressing the Council on the occasion of today's open debate, the ICRC has two messages and two asks. Message one, hunger is not an inevitable consequence of war. Existing legal and policy frameworks address hunger and armed conflict, including resolution 2417. This landmark resolution unanimously adopted by the council provides a clear framework for action, action that can prevent hunger from becoming an additional and compounding layer of crisis and conflict. Timely humanitarian action can also help protect food systems under pressure. Sustaining agriculture and livelihoods during crisis can help prevent further collapse, reducing dependence on emergency assistance and supporting recovery. Message two, respect for international humanitarian law is essential to prevention. Food systems depend on interconnected infrastructure and services, water, energy, transport and markets. Damage and disruption can reverberate across these systems, affecting food availability and access far beyond the immediate area of hostilities. Respect for IHL obligations mitigates these disruptions, including the obligations of parties to armed conflict to respect and protect civilians and civilian objects, to comply with rules prohibiting the attack, destruction, removal, or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. This may notably include foodstuffs, sources of drinking water, and agricultural areas. Parties must also comply with the strict prohibition on the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and they must also allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to civilians in need. Madam President, we should not measure Resolution 2417 by the effectiveness of humanitarian response to food crises once they emerge, but by our collective capacity to prevent food security from spiraling in armed conflict. The ICRC's two asks today are thus, first, states in this council must act and act early. Early warning must lead to early political, diplomatic, and operational engagement. People affected by conflict should not have to wait until their coping mechanisms are exhausted and famine is imminent. Second, put respect for IHL at the center of prevention. Protecting civilians, livelihoods, essential services, and humanitarian action throughout conflict helps preserve people's ability to survive before emergency assistance becomes their last remaining option. Humanitarian assistance cannot compensate for violations or failures to protect the civilian population. In conclusion, Madam President, the ICRC carries out its operational work and confidential dialogue with parties to armed conflicts to protect civilians, preserve humanitarian space, and help people withstand the consequences of armed conflict. We call on all states to respect and ensure respect for IHL and to uphold humanity in war. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Muschini for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Madam President, I thank Denmark for convening this debate and the Secretary General and all briefers for their insights. As others have said, hunger is neither inevitable nor merely a natural consequence of war. Rather, it is a political and security challenge demanding firm and timely collective action. Conflict-related hunger is the extreme illustration of our failure to uphold fundamental international obligations. Resolution 2417 established an important framework in this matter by recognizing the link between armed conflict and food insecurity. Eight years after its adoption, our priority should be its full and effective implementation. The urgency of this challenge is evident in several crises before us. In Sudan, armed conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, devastated livelihoods, and pushed entire communities towards famine conditions. In Gaza, destruction of civilian infrastructure, disruption of food systems, and restrictions on humanitarian access have produced extreme food insecurity. In Sudan and South Sudan, violence and displacement continue to threaten vulnerable communities. In Yemen, years of conflict and weakened infrastructure continue to expose millions to acute hunger. All these situations are different, but they share a common lesson. When conflict disrupts food production, markets, supply routes, and humanitarian operations, Hunger can become both a consequence of war and a driver of instability. Our response must be to ensure full respect for international humanitarian law at all times by all parties. Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is unlawful and morally unacceptable. Civilians must have access to food, water and essential services. and humanitarian personnel must reach populations in need safely, rapidly, and without impediment. Agricultural land, food production and distribution systems, markets, and other objects indispensable to civilian survival must also be protected. There must be no selectivity in applying these principles. Prevention must also be at the center of our response. Resolution 2417 provides the Council with tools to act before food insecurity reaches catastrophic levels. Early warning information from the UN system, including FAO, WFP and OCHA, should lead to timely preventive action. Prevention must also look beyond the immediate theatre of conflict. Disruptions to agricultural production, fertilizer and energy supplies, ports, maritime routes, and international trade can rapidly transmit the effects of conflict to distant countries, particularly developing and import-dependent economies. Legal and humanitarian action, however indispensable, cannot substitute for political solutions. The most effective way to end conflict-related hunger is to end conflict themselves. Madam President, the international community and this Council in particular must invest more consistently in diplomacy, mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Brazil supports strengthened good offices by the Secretary-General, including when they can facilitate humanitarian arrangements, protect essential supply routes, and preserve access to food and other indispensable goods. The Black Sea Grain Initiative is a good example of a successful initiative in this regard. Our response to conflict-related hunger must also address the structural causes. Conflict amplifies hunger, but hunger is closely connected to poverty, inequality, unsustainable debt, and insufficient investment in resilient food systems. Fighting hunger and poverty is inseparable from building sustainable peace. This belief inspired the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty during Brazil's G20 presidency. Governments, the UN, IFIs, regional organizations, and the private sector all have a role and responsibility in strengthening food systems and helping developing countries build resilience against shocks. Madam President, The international community has the knowledge, resources and tools to prevent hunger aggravated by conflict. What is too often missing is political will. The instinctive indignation we feel when confronted with reports of starvation is evidence of our shared humanity. We must turn indignation into timely and effective action. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Croatia.

Madam President, let me congratulate you on the presidency of the Council for this month and your able leadership, including organizing this important meeting. Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to make a few points in its national capacity. Madam President, resolution 2417 gives us tools. We must use them earlier, faster, and more systematically. Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity worldwide. And in this year, more people faced crisis-level hunger than at any point in the past decade. When conflicts disrupt energy flows, fertilizer supplies, or major trade routes, the ripple effects hit food import-dependent countries hardest. The Council should trigger early warning alerts when these risks emerge. These alerts should draw on data from FAO, WFP, IMO, IEA and regional organizations and should map exposure across global food systems, not only within the conflict zone. Monthly cross-pillar briefings on maritime corridors, land routes and humanitarian logistics would allow us to act before disruptions escalate into full-scale crisis. Second, we must mitigate humanitarian consequences for the most food insecure and import dependent countries. Many of them already face record levels of acute hunger driven by conflict, high import bills and volatile fertilizer and fuel prices. The Council should support humanitarian access guarantees in conflict affected regions. It should call for temporary safe trade corridors for food, fuel and fertilizer. It should encourage deconfliction mechanisms that protect ports, storage facilities, and humanitarian convoys. And it should request regular reporting on secondary impacts in countries far from the conflict but heavily reliant on imports for basic staples. Third, we need coordinated action to build resilient food systems. Member states should expand strategic grain and fertilizer reserves, especially as global markets remain tight and price spikes are increasingly frequent. International financial institutions should scale up shock responsive financing for vulnerable importers facing rising import costs. Regional organizations should strengthen early warning networks for food, energy and transport disruptions. Humanitarian actors need predictable multi-year funding to stabilize markets during crises. And the UN system should integrate food security risk analysis into all peace and security assessments, reflecting the reality that conflict-driven food crises are now systemic, not episodic. Fourth, the Council can better support the Secretary-General's good offices. It should request technical risk assessments from FAO, WFP, UNCTAD, IMO and UNEP when conflicts threaten global food systems. It should mandate operational briefings on critical choke points, ports, straits, pipelines and fertilizer production hubs whose disruption can push millions into acute food insecurity. And it should encourage the Secretary-General to facilitate agreements on safe maritime passage, de-escalation around critical infrastructure, and humanitarian exemptions for food and fertilizer trade. Global food systems are now frontline casualties of conflict. The Council has the mandate, the tools, and the responsibility to act earlier, more decisively, and with greater coordination. Let us use the resolution 2417 to prevent hunger, stabilize markets and protect the most vulnerable. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Croatia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.

Thank you, Madam President.

Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and wishes to add the following.

Remarks in its national capacity.

I thank the Presidency of Denmark for convening this debate and the Secretary-General and other briefers for their statements. The evidence is clear.

Armed conflicts is a major driver of food insecurity.

From Sudan and the.

Sahel to Haiti, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gaza, conflict and hunger reinforce one another, devastating millions of lives.

Food is weaponized, civilian infrastructure destroyed, and humanitarian access obstructed.

Resolution 2417 unequivocally condemns the use of starvation as a method of warfare, yet violations continue with impunity.

This Council must demand the protection of civilians and infrastructure essential for their survival.

And ensure safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access.

It is difficult to discuss the Council's.

Role in addressing food crisis when a permanent member of this Council is itself responsible for grave violations of international.

Law.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has devastated the country and seriously undermined global food security. It has disrupted Ukraine's grain production and exports, increased pressure on global food prices, and exposed vulnerabilities in international supply chains.

Russia abandoned the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative established to mitigate the food insecurity aggravated by its own aggression.

It has also intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports, grain infrastructure, and commercial vessels serving them, disrupting vital maritime trade and killing civilian sailors. These consequences extend far beyond Ukraine.

Attacks on ports and shipping routes threaten supplies to countries dependent on Ukrainian agricultural exports and further endanger the world's most vulnerable communities.

We call on all Council members.

To exert pressure on Russia to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure, ports and shipping routes.

Agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Madam President, impunity for targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure or using starvation as a method of warfare cannot be tolerated.

We must strengthen accountability, early warning and preventive action before food crises deteriorate into famine.

Humanitarian assistance is indispensable.

But it is not a lasting solution.

Food security must be integrated into conflict prevention, peacebuilding and recovery.

While strengthening resilient food systems and protecting global supply chains. The challenge before this Council is ultimately one of political will.

LIFINA calls for decisive action to break the deadly link between conflict and hunger.

I thank you.

I thank the representative of Lithuania for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank Denmark for convening this important meeting. Eight years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2417, conflict continues to drive alarming levels of hunger and food insecurity. Japan is deeply concerned by the Secretary-General's finding that 147 million people across 19 countries and territories face acute conflict-induced food insecurity. We are further concerned that escalating regional tensions are disrupting commodity flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, storing food and fertilizer supplies, heightening food crisis risks, and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable countries. The United Nations, including the Security Council, must respond to those humanitarian situations and food insecurity with urgency and solidarity. Japan calls on all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international law, including by facilitating rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and to implement resolution 2417, including through the protection of objects indispensable to the production and distribution of food. We further urge the international community to strengthen early warning mechanisms and make full use of the existing UN tools to prevent and address conflict-induced food insecurity. Madam President, Addressing food insecurity requires both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term recovery of the agricultural system. Regarding immediate response, this year Japan contributed 31.8 million US dollars through WFP to support emergency food assistance in Palestine. helping ensure the continued delivery of essential food supplies to the families who have endured months of crisis. Regarding mid to long-term recovery efforts, Japan committed approximately $4.4 million through FAO and UNMAS to support the clearance of mine and unexploded ordnance to enable the safe return of farming families to northwest Syria. This assistance helps save lives while empowering affected communities to rebuild their livelihoods in dignity and self-reliance, laying the foundation for a more stable and hopeful future. The food security situation in Africa also demands our serious attention. According to the latest Hunger Hotspots report, jointly published by FAO and WFP, Seven of the world's 13 hunger hotspots are in Africa, including Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. In response, Japan has contributed a total of 25.5 million US dollars this year to 26 African countries through WFP and FAO, including several identified as hunger hotspots, providing both emergency food assistance and mid to long term resilience building support. Madam President, these responses are critical for coping with the crisis, but lasting solutions unequivocally require tackling the root causes of conflict and hunger through humanitarian development and peace nexus. The human security approach, long advocated by Japan, provides an important framework for advancing this nexus on the ground. In closing, Japan remains committed to supporting immediate humanitarian responses and long-term resilience-building efforts in cooperation with the international community to combat hunger and assist conflict-affected populations. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Japan for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Thank you, President. Australia thanks Denmark for convening this debate and the Secretary General, Mr. Scholl, and Dr. Benos for their briefings. President, the link between hunger and armed conflict is undeniable. Hunger drives conflict and it is too often weaponized in war. Resolution 2417 was a milestone recognition of the vicious cycle between conflict and food insecurity. The rules are clear. Civilian objects necessary for food production and distribution must be protected. Yet eight years later, we are witnessing an accelerating disregard for international humanitarian law in multiple conflicts and stark increase in food insecurity worldwide. The number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger has increased ninefold in the last decade. President, Australia proposes three key areas to focus international efforts. Protection, prevention and partnerships. First, lasting food security cannot be achieved without respect for international humanitarian law and full, safe, rapid, unhindered access to people in need. The deliberate denial, obstruction or manipulation of food supplies and humanitarian assistance is unacceptable. Australia reiterates our call for the restrictions on humanitarian organisations to be lifted. and for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And we call on Russia to cease attacks on warehouses storing food for frontline civilian populations in Ukraine. In armed conflict, we cannot protect civilians unless we also protect the aid workers who provide life saving food and water. Any attacks that deliberately threaten the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must cease. That is why Australia led the launch of the Declaration for the Protection of Man Sharing Personnel. Second, we cannot just respond to food crises. If we are serious about breaking the cycle between hunger and conflict, we must address its root causes. Prevention is the most effective and cost efficient response. Today's conflict drivers, climate change, food insecurity and economic shocks are accelerating instability, often across borders. Effective national prevention strategies can help detect and mitigate food insecurity before it leads to violence. We encourage the Council to leverage early warning systems to determine where additional monitoring may be appropriate for conflict prevention efforts. Where tensions appear to be escalating, the Council should consider stepping up monitoring and reporting to identify and address the risks of food insecurity before it materialises. Third, the world needs a whole of society approach to foster resilience, encouraging cooperation between governments, regional organisations, international financial institutions, the private sector and communities. The impacts of the Middle East conflict, including ongoing disruptions to shipping through vital sea lanes, are deepening food insecurity. For Australia and our neighbors, restoring freedom of navigation in the Middle East is critical to the stability of international supply chains and global energy and fertiliser markets. We must also utilise the good offices of the Secretary-General to protect civilian food supply routes, both land and maritime. Australia advocates for a comprehensive approach that targets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable while strengthening agricultural productivity, sustainability, and opening markets. President, Australia supports concrete measures to implement resolution 2417. As a candidate for the council in 2029-30, Australia will drive practical initiatives and work with member states to both protect and prevent. We need a UN system-wide approach that takes timely action to prevent and respond to conflict-related food insecurity and coordinate with all actors. I thank you.

Thank you, representative of Australia for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia.

Thank you, Madam President. Slovenia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU and the Group of Friends of Action on Climate and Hunger. Conflict and hunger. Hunger is perhaps one of the most public faces of war. It lives in the memories passed down by generations, and it reaches us daily through the screens of our phones from conflicts across the world. Yet in this familiarity, we risk forgetting that hunger is not an inevitable consequence of war. It is preventable in its entirety, and sadly, many times it is a deliberate weapon. of war. Madam President, food insecurity in conflict is shaped by choices and actions of the parties. Whether civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected, whether food can be produced and markets can function, whether humanitarian assistance can reach those in need, whether those particularly vulnerable enjoy special protection. ultimately, whether the rules of international humanitarian law are respected and this Council landmark resolution 2417 is fully implemented. That means there is a space for action, and it means that there is responsibility, including in this Chamber. The reports this Council receives from reliable sources, such as the World Food Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization must inform international community's response in Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the occupied Palestinian territory, and eastern DRC. The early warning alerts provided by the IPC system should inspire collective preventive action in Afghanistan, the Sahel, Haiti, Lebanon, Mali, and Myanmar. While Russia's full-scale invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory, together with contaminated farmland, continues to pose one of the most pressing risks for global grain and food security, disruptions of movement of energy and fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea add further pressure to the global food system. So, Madam President, Slovenia, serving as the Council's Informal Co-Focal Point on Hunger and Conflict with Guyana in 2025, would like to use this opportunity to offer the following recommendations to this Council. First, ensuring respect for international humanitarian law must remain at the centre of our response to conflict-induced hunger. International law prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. Those responsible must be held accountable. Second, Humanitarian workers must be protected and humanitarian access must be facilitated. Those risking their own lives delivering food and other life-saving assistance must be able to reach people in need safely, rapidly and without obstruction. Third, objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population enjoy special protection. In this regard, Slovenia is particularly concerned by the pattern of attacks on water infrastructure and freshwater resources. The Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts, which Slovenia established together with partners, recognises the direct links between water, food production, civilian survival and public health. It calls for stronger protection of water in conflict zones around the world. And fourth, humanitarian diplomacy must continue to deliver. Humanitarian ceasefire agreements should be considered whenever possible. Political engagement must translate into humanitarian access. And this is why Slovenia continues to strengthen its support for the World Food Programme and its indispensable work in delivering life-saving assistance. Madam President, we know the rules, we have the early warning tools, and we have the capacity to act before hunger turns into famine. Thank you.

Representative of Slovenia for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

Madam President, resolution 2417 of 2018 recognised that hunger is not just a consequence of conflicts, but rather It is also a factor that can make conflicts longer, more wide-ranging, worse, and cause them to spill beyond their borders. We recognize the negative impacts caused by the intersection between climate change and food insecurity, in particular on communities that are already afflicted by conflict. According to information provided by the World Food Programme, 70% of the people experiencing acute food insecurity, that is to say hunger, live in precarious countries or countries affected by conflict. Just yesterday, during the informative meeting on the situation in Sudan, Information provided by UN officials and several members of the council made a direct link between conflict and food insecurity. Unfortunately, these figures translate into tangible human suffering in this conflict and in other situations of armed conflict. My delegation wishes to make the most of this opportunity, speaking here at this debate, to emphasise three things. First of all, for Mexico, it would be beneficial for this Council to harness the information available from specialised entities of the UN system, in particular the UN Organisation for Food and Agriculture, the FAO, and the World Food Programme, the WFP, and use them to identify systemic risks to the global food markets. Second, it's essential to protect those who are paying the highest cost of conflict. Mexico strongly condemns the use of hunger as a weapon of war and reiterates that Deliberately taking away essential goods for the survival of the civilian population constitutes an unacceptable violation of international humanitarian law. There is no political or military objective that can justify a population not having access to food, water or humanitarian assistance. We call upon all parties to armed conflicts to strictly respect international law and to guarantee safe, rapid and sustained humanitarian access. My country commends and supports the good offices of our Secretary-General to continue to facilitate agreements that allow humanitarian corridors to stay open, and also essential supply routes, both land ones as well as maritime ones, to stay open. Thirdly, it's essential to make progress in the building of more resilient food systems. Recent disruptions to strategic international trade routes show us that food security also depends on other factors such as energy, fertilizer, maritime transport, and the stability of supply chains. For Mexico, it is necessary to reduce vulnerabilities by diversifying suppliers and markets, strengthening national productive capacities. and developing sustainable alternatives for agricultural inputs. In this endeavor, the FAO, the WFP and other specialized agencies of the UN must provide their technical and scientific experience. Madam President, it would be remiss of me to talk about food shortages in situations of armed conflict without referring to the underlying causes of this problem, which is the economic inequality that underlies all of this and is the root cause of all food shortage problems. That's the economic inequality that we see that's prevalent in our world. We must insist on the point that 37% of the world's wealth is held in the hands of one percent of the population. We're seeing a staggering increase to obscene levels of personal and family fortunes at the same time as ten percent of the world's population are surviving on three dollars a day. This intolerable situation is the root cause of the conflicts that we are seeing right now. I'd just like to remind you, distinguished colleagues, that Mexico put forward a proposal to the United Nations in order to mitigate inequality. In 2021, we put forward an initiative based on reducing corporate earnings. which could be a departure point, it could be a starting point to help us to resolve this fundamental issue of our time. My proposal here is that we come back to this proposal and take a look at it. Mexico wishes to urge this Council once again to ensure that the mandates that it grants, including efforts for peacekeeping and peacebuilding, includes the capacities that are required in order to anticipate and mitigate the complex intersection between conflicts, the negative impacts of climate change and food crises. The goal here should be clear, preventing a food crisis becoming a peace and security crisis and preventing it from affecting those who are far away from its causes. Prevention begins well before a famine begins. As the Secretary General has said, if we don't feed people, we will instead be feeding conflict. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Madam President. We commend Denmark for convening this timely and important discussion. We also thank the Secretary General for his insightful remarks, and Mr. Skow and Dr. Benoit for their valuable briefings. Madam President, although the Security Council adopted resolution 2417 in 2018, which explicitly links armed conflict to hunger and contains the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war, acute food insecurity has intensified worldwide. The 2026 Global Report on Food Crisis documents an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The proportion of population facing high levels of acute food insecurity has doubled over the past decade. Conflict remains the primary driver, displacing millions, destroying agriculture and restricting aid access. Tragically, for the first time in the report history, two concurrent famines were confirmed in the same year, 2025, inflicted upon the peoples of Gaza and Sudan. In Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe remains an open, unhealed wound. The latest IPC data highlights a dear reality in which 1.4 million people continue to face acute food insecurity. Famine conditions previously identified in Gaza illustrate the devastating toll of using hunger as a weapon of war. Children are dying of malnutrition while life savings aid trucks are blocked just miles away. Algeria reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian relief. Turning to Sudan, the country faces one of the largest acute food insecurity emergencies globally. According to the latest IPC analysis, 19.5 million people, nearly 41% of the population, now face high levels of acute food insecurity. Most alarmingly, 135,000 individuals are trapped in phase five, enduring starvation, while 825,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Conflict-driven restriction on humanitarian access Deliberate attacks on supply routes and the destruction of food production systems continue to prevent aid from reaching those most in need. The Sudanese people urgently need the guns to fall silent, humanitarian corridors to remain open, and immediate unhindered humanitarian access. Yet at the very moment when these crimes demand greater international mobilization, we are deeply concerned that international humanitarian funding for food sectors has steeply declined, dropping to levels not seen in a decade. This funding deficit is not merely a humanitarian concern. It has direct implication for international peace and security. Madam President, allow me to emphasize the following core pillars. Starvation can never be justified as a method of warfare. Parties to conflicts bear a strict obligation to protect civilians and the critical infrastructure essential to their survival, including food production and water systems. Furthermore, unimpeded humanitarian access is vital. Algeria remains fully mobilized on this front, co-chairing the working group on the protection of civilian infrastructure within the global initiative to galvanize political commitment to international humanitarian law. Moreover, our unwavering commitment to those on the front lines was further reaffirmed by signing the declaration on the protection of humanitarian personnel in September 2025. Madam President, the link between hunger and conflicts feeds the destructive loop that must be broken if this Council is to uphold its primary responsibility for international peace and security. We must advance concrete measures, including Developing robust early warning mechanisms to detect attacks against food and water infrastructure. Mobilizing resources to rebuild vital infrastructure disrupted or destroyed by conflict. Securing safe, rapid, and endured access for humanitarian aid. Ensuring accountability for perpetrators targeting civilian infrastructure. establishing a dedicated sanctions regime against parties that violate resolution 2417 and use starvation as a weapon of war. In conclusion, Madam President, while food insecurity can stem from diverse factors, when it's driven and exacerbated by armed conflicts, it demands an immediate and decisive response from the international community. Algeria reaffirms its steadfast commitment to working with all partners to uphold international humanitarian law, protect human dignity and foster lasting peace where hunger is never again weaponized against humanity. Hunger must never be a weapon of war. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President, of Algeria for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Chequia.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. The Czech Republic welcomes this debate and thanks Denmark for convening it. At a time when many countries are already struggling to ensure access to food and water amid increasingly frequent drought and weather extremes, it is armed conflict that continues to push millions closer to hunger. It destroys livelihoods, disrupts agricultural production, and places additional pressure on already fragile food systems. The consequences are rarely confined to the immediate area of hostilities. Disruptions to trade routes, energy supplies, fertilizer markets and food exports drive up prices and hit food insecure and import dependent countries the hardest. Recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz have once again demonstrated how quickly regional conflicts can affect global food security. This is precisely why the full implementation of resolution 2417 remains so important. Preventing conflict-induced hunger begins with respect for international humanitarian law. Civilians and objects indispensable to their survival must be protected. Humanitarian assistance must reach those in need safely and without delay. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited and must be condemned. Madam President, close to our borders, Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine illustrates the close link between conflict and food insecurity. Attacks on ports, agricultural infrastructure and export routes undermine Ukraine's economy, disrupt grain exports, and affect food markets well beyond the region, with the greatest impact on the most vulnerable countries. The Czech Republic therefore continues to support efforts to maintain global food supplies, including through its contribution to the Grain from Ukraine initiative, implemented in cooperation with the World Food Programme. Madam President, The Security Council should make full use of resolution 2417, including its early warning mechanisms. Identifying risks is not enough. Warnings must be followed by timely action. Our objective is clear, to prevent food insecurity caused by conflict from evolving into a broader humanitarian and security crisis. Protecting people from hunger is not only a humanitarian responsibility, it is an essential contribution to international peace and security. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Czechia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Romania aligns to the EU statement.

The

Security Council Resolution 2417 is a landmark instrument that is even more relevant in the present context with the world experiencing the largest number of conflicts since 1945 and the number of battle related death in the past five years that surpasses the entire 20 year period before it. The resolution also underlines the express commitment to address conflict-induced food insecurity, which derives directly from the Security Council's responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The impacts acknowledged by resolution 2417 are visible throughout the world, from Ukraine to Sudan and from Haiti to Myanmar. FAO and WFP assessments indicate clearly that armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity. In an environment of declining humanitarian assistance, of resource and mandate limitations in peacekeeping operations, and of upsurge in the number and intensity of conflicts, the future looks anything but bright. Madam President, the impact of conflict on food security is not localized, unfortunately. The current crisis affecting the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that, as land and maritime routes are essential for global supplies, including for fuel and fertilizers, The disruption can rapidly transmit the consequences of conflict thousands of kilometers away, impacting everyone, primarily the most vulnerable countries and peoples. The effects of armed conflict on food security do not only result from the nature of conflict itself, and sometimes they stem from deliberate and systematic action within it. The consequences of Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggression and conduct in warfare against Ukraine clearly indicates this. Russia's disruption of Ukraine's critical grain exports, including the recent surge in cargo targeting, as we heard yesterday in this very chamber during another debate, has produced severe consequences on millions of people around the world. Such disruption also triggered inflation in food prices and increased insurance premiums, all contributing to food shortages. Russia's deliberate and unwarranted actions contributed to transforming other UN member states, especially those confronted with food insecurity and disproportional import dependencies into additional victims of its aggression against Ukraine. Protecting food supply chains is inherently linked to the benefit of the universal human right to adequate food, both in relation to the conflict itself and the wider international community. Adding to the efforts of the international community following the July 2023 withdrawal by Russia from the Black Sea Grain Initiative mediated by the United Nations and Turkey, Romania acted swiftly. We accelerated our already ongoing efforts to facilitate transit of Ukrainian grain exports. They were carried out in conjunction with the European Union institutions, with member states, with the Republic of Moldova under the EU Solidarity Lanes framework. which made possible for Ukraine to export through Romania over 70 million tons of goods, of which 55 million tons of grains. The focus of our actions has been to ensure transit of agricultural products so as to mitigate the risk of food insecurity worldwide, especially for the most vulnerable. As a primary producer of staple crops and the logistical hub, Romania will continue to help ensure the stability of the global supply chain and help feed those in need across the globe by channeling grains to global markets in Africa, in Asia, and the Middle East. Madam President, hunger must never be accepted as an inevitable consequence of war, and food should never be weaponized. No goal, military, political, or otherwise, can be achieved through such actions. Resolution 2417 is not merely an act of acknowledgement of the link between conflict and hunger. It places clear responsibilities on this Council of prevention and affection when conflict deprives civilians of food and when it threatens consequences far beyond the battlefield. Thank you, Madam President.

Romania for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Kuwait.

Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, We associate ourselves with the statement of the group of friends of action on conflict and hunger. My delegation is also pleased to welcome his Excellency, Mr. Lars Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly Kingdom of Denmark, and Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General in this session. We also extend our thanks to Mr. Karl Skau and to Dr. Benoit, whom we thank for their valuable briefings. Madam President, I also take the opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to you, to your friendly country and to your permanent mission for convening this high-level meeting under the agenda item maintenance of international peace and security. This in itself reflects the recognition by your esteemed Council of the close link between food insecurity and threats to international peace and security. It also confirms that this issue is no longer a purely humanitarian matter or one separate from the core responsibilities of this Council. The experience of past decades have demonstrated that armed conflicts frequently disrupt food production, markets and supply chains and damage civilian objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population. At the same time, Worsening hunger and food insecurity contribute to increased vulnerability, displacement, and they weaken the ability of communities to withstand crisis and recover. From this perspective, the Security Council's consideration of this issue would strengthen the implementation of obligations already existing under international law, particularly international humanitarian law. It would also underscore the importance of preventing and responding to conflict-related food insecurity within the framework of the Council's responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Madam President, your esteemed Council has recognized this close link between conflict and food insecurity when it unanimously adopted resolution 2417 of 2018. The State of Kuwait had the honour during its most recent term on the Security Council of co-introducing that resolution and advancing this issue at the heart of the Council's work and responsibilities. The importance of that resolution lays in the fact that it did not merely affirm existing obligations under international humanitarian law or condemn the starvation of civilians or the unlawful denial of humanitarian assistance. Rather, it established a clear international understanding of the direct relationship between conflict and hunger. Conflicts frequently disrupt production, markets, and supplies, while hunger and the erosion of livelihoods increase fragility and weaken the ability of communities to recover and achieve stability, ultimately placing civilian lives in direct danger and claiming their lives. Gaza today stands as a stark example of what can happen when the human right to food is targeted or access to food is restricted. Systematic Israeli practices, including the blockade and restrictions imposed on the entry of assistance and goods, together with the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and production facilities, have spread famine across parts of the Gaza Strip. From this perspective, the state of Kuwait, condemns in the strongest terms the use by Israel, the occupying power, of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, as affirmed in Security Council Resolution 2417. It also strongly condemns placing defenseless civilians before an inhumane equation of starvation or surrender. in a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and of the most basic requirements of human dignity. Madam President, recent developments in our Arab region have demonstrated that the repercussions of conflicts frequently extend far beyond their borders, affecting global supply chains and markets. In this context, the state of Kuwait condemns in the strongest terms Iran's continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the direct threat that this action poses to the security and stability of global supply chains. In this context, my country stresses that the danger posed by such actions is not limited to energy security alone. It also extend directly to global food security through the disruption of trade, rising shipping, fuel and fertilizer costs, and increasing food prices, the consequences of which are borne most heavily by the most vulnerable and import dependent states. We must not overlook in this context the broader security dimension of food insecurity. The erosion of livelihoods, the widening circles of poverty and marginalization, and intensifying competition for resources are all direct factors that increase the fragility of societies, exacerbate existing tensions, and provide terrorist and extremist groups with opportunities to exploit those conditions for recruitment, incitement, and for fomenting violence. Madam President, we must ask ourselves with complete candor, where do we stand today? How can we speak of achieving the SDGs, of eradicating hunger, of fulfilling the purposes of the UN Charter concerning the maintenance of international peace and security while before our very eyes, And in full view of the world, civilians in conflict areas are reaching unprecedented levels of famine with death in its wake. The documented figures no longer leave any room for denial or justification. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC, has confirmed the occurrence of famine in conflict affected areas. Meanwhile, the Global Report on Food Crises 2026 confirmed that acute hunger has doubled over the past decade and that the number of people facing the most severe levels of catastrophic hunger is now ninefold what it was in 2016 and that for the first time in the history of the report famine was confirmed in two separate contexts during a single year in 2025. We also ask Madam President if we have the legal rules If we have early warning mechanisms and we have resolution 2417 and conclusive evidence before our very eyes, and yet, despite all of this, we still reach the point of famine and loss of life, then the question is no longer what rules or resolutions we lack, but what we lack in terms of genuine political will to implement them. Eight years after the adoption of resolution 2417, our responsibility today is not to create new obligations, but to respect and implement existing obligations and to transform the warnings and resolutions of this esteemed council from words recited after a catastrophe has occurred into tools that prevent it from occurring in the first place. A society exhausted by hunger and deprived of its livelihoods cannot build lasting stability, nor can a world that accepts civilians dying of starvation before its very eyes claim that it is steadily advancing towards sustainable peace. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Kuwait for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. Madam President, armed conflicts remains a major driver of hunger and food insecurity, which cannot be addressed without confronting its root causes, including aggression, occupation, unlawful coercive measures, and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure. Security Council Resolution 2417 condemns starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and denial of humanitarian access. In Gaza, Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinian people has involved grave violations of international humanitarian law, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and weaponization of hunger through starvation and systematic obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Yet, despite the scale of these crimes, the Security Council has repeatedly failed to uphold its charter responsibilities and ensure accountability due to political protection and obstruction by the United States. Madam President, the root cause of instability and disruptions to maritime trade and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is the U.S.-Israeli regime war of aggression against Iran, in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law. Prior to this aggression, commercial navigation through the Strait proceeded without disruption. The United States and the Israeli regime launched an unlawful war of aggression against Iran on 28 February 2026, with grave and far-reaching consequences for regional and international peace and security. Their act of aggression, in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and the pre-emptory norm of general international law, resulted in the assassination and martyrdom of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the highest official of the state, together with several other senior Iranian officials, as well as the martyrdom of more than 3,400 innocent civilians, including hundreds of women and children. The Islamabad MOU signed on 17 June expressly required the United States to refrain from any threat or use of force against Iran. Once again, the United States materially breached the MOU by launching further military aggression against Iran, which started on 27 June 2026, killing more than 60 civilians, injuring over 630, and deliberately targeting airports, bridges, transportation infrastructures, vessels, search and rescue facilities, and meteorological installations. The responsibility does not rest solely with the main aggressors. States that facilitate unlawful military action by providing bases, logistical or intelligence support, or access to airspace must also bear responsibility under the international law. As such, assistance contributes to regional instability and undermines maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz. Madam President, the United States has demonstrated utter disregard for international law. The U.S. maritime blockade of Iran and attacks on Iranian commercial vessels in international waters constitute grave violations of Iran's sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and international law of the sea. U.S. CENTCOM publicly stated on 12 August that US forces had redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled three, and boarded two. These unlawful measures, alongside the so-called Operation Economic Outcast announced yesterday, 24 August, by the US Secretary of the Treasury, are seeking to impose an economic blockade on brave Iranian people, weaponization of weaponizing food, energy, trade, and access to essential goods as instruments of pressure and warfare. Such unlawful measures cannot be justified under the pretext of security or freedom of navigation. US measures violate fundamental human rights and the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention, and freedom of navigation, constitute a material breach of Security Council Resolution 2417 and seek to circumvent the functions entrusted to the Security Council under the UN Charter. What is at stake is the integrity of international law. If such unlawful acts are allowed to go unchallenged, it would set a dangerous precedent. Security Council must categorically condemn and reject these unilateral coercive measures aimed at compelling sovereign states to alter their lawful economic interests and foreign relations. We call on all states to reject and denounce the extraterritorial application of unilateral coercive measures by the United States regime, aimed at compelling member states to subordinate their sovereign rights and lawful policies to those of other states. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to pursue all available avenue to seek accountability, reparation, and redress, and to hold those responsible to account for the consequences of these unlawful acts. Iran also reaffirms its inherent right of self-defense under international law in the face of the continued U.S. aggressive and unlawful acts. Madam President, Iran's measures are lawful and defensive in nature. As a coastal state to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has a legitimate right under international law to take necessary measures in response to aggression against its territory and sovereignty. Claims to the contrary have no legal basis. The only sustainable path toward restoring peace, regional stability, and safe maritime navigation is to end aggression. fully respect Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, lift unlawful blockade and unilateral coercive measures, and provide credible guarantees against any recurrence of aggression. Any arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz can only be established, regulated, and managed by its littoral states, namely Iran and Oman. Madam President, in conclusion, I categorically reject the unfounded allegations made by certain members against Iran regarding alleged disruption to maritime trade and navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Rather than addressing the root causes of the current crisis, these allegations deliberately ignore the unlawful aggression against Iran, overlook grave violations of international law, and seek to shift responsibility from the aggressors to the victim. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Paraguay.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Paraguay thanks Denmark for this opportunity to take the floor, and we welcome this high-level debate, whose theme is of particular importance to us. It might seem repetitive, but it is necessary to say this ad nauseam, that we cannot have development without peace or peace without development, and this Council has the heavy responsibility of making the security pillar a source of policy that enables development by re-establishing or building peace. it's necessary to underscore that this body has recognized in the past the direct link between hunger and warfare and has affirmed that food insecurity caused by conflicts constitutes a threat to international peace and security. Madam President, currently both the work of this charter body as well as the fulfillment of the UN's SDGs are coming up against many difficulties above and beyond the reasons behind this reality, we must improve the efficacy of the system in general, both the peacekeeping architecture as well as the way it works in complementarity with development activities that should be part of the value chain that strengthens the capacities of countries coming outside of internal or international armed conflicts. Food security is a multidimensional issue. It can mean a breakdown in the development process, going back to initial steps or a rupture of the rule of law. In this regard, it can be both a cause as well as a consequence of confrontation and conflict, as we've seen in the many active conflicts that we see around the world. where we have borne witness to the fact that the civilian population is the one that suffers the worst consequences, particularly women and girls. Madam President, we cannot allow entire populations, particularly women and children, to face hunger due to armed conflicts, because the consequences of this reality will always be catastrophic. Preserving Human life, therefore, must be an absolute priority. The protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure are the responsibility of all parties to a conflict. And these were included in the obligations set forth in international humanitarian law. At this organization, we have made very lofty commitments, beginning with ones that we must honor as charter obligations. Colleagues, peace is not something that can be achieved immediately, but rather a continuous process that can continue to be built, in particular when it comes to dealing with the causes that lead to conflicts. We know that this is a constant concern, the fact that in the framework of an armed conflict, the more harm caused to the civilian population or civilian infrastructure, in particular critical infrastructure of a given country, the more difficult it is to engage in sustainable peace processes. From our country's point of view, this Council could benefit from working more closely with the resident coordinator system working on the ground in the same vein. Withdrawal strategies and reintegration of peacekeeping missions must have flexible time frames for withdrawal that enable them to strengthen national institutions and thus facilitate the work of the natural development bodies once the PKK has withdrawn. The World Food Programme has warned about the fact that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz threatens causing an additional 40 pushing an additional 45 million people to acute food insecurity if this conflict continues. And that's why we underscore that we must ensure that the strait is fully reopened and that international maritime law is fully respected. given the consequences around the world, the disruption of global supply chains for food and goods related to agricultural production. Madam President, we conclude by underscoring the fact that implementation of resolution 2417, which was unanimously adopted in this Council, is important and reiterate our support for it. fulfilment of it when it comes to all of the situations of conflict we see around the world. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank Denmark for convening this timely debate. I also thank the Secretary-General and the other briefers for their valuable contributions. In today's interconnected global economy, food insecurity is no longer confined to the immediate geography of armed conflict. Distant populations continue to be impacted by conflict that trigger cascading shocks through energy markets, fertilizer supply chains, maritime corridors, financial systems, and humanitarian logistics networks miles away. Additionally, the interplay of conflict, climate extremes, displacements, economic pressures, and fragile food systems continue to deepen grievances, hate and vulnerability, and undermine stability. Reports of the 266 million people across 47 countries and territories who face acute food insecurity in 2025 are deeply concerning. They underscore the mutually reinforcing relationship between conflict and food insecurity and the importance of addressing food insecurity as a component of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. Kenya's own experience illustrates these interconnections. In early 2026, approximately 429,000 people in Kenya's refugee settlements face crisis level food insecurity amid reductions in international humanitarian financing. Kenya continues to protect and assist the refugees while addressing its own food security needs, where approximately 3.7 million people in its arid and semi-arid lands were at risk of crisis level or worse food insecurity by June 2026. While this situation was driven primarily by poor and erratic rainfall, global conflict related increases in the cost of food, fuel and agricultural input compounded by the vulnerability of affected communities. Madam President, we believe that the Security Council has an important and distinct responsibility under Resolution 2417. In this regard, we propose four mutual reinforcing priorities. First, we encourage a stronger connection between early warning, early political engagement, and early action supported by integrated analysis of how conflict disrupts food production, markets, livelihoods, humanitarian operations, and access to essential supplies, early warning should be treated as an opportunity for prevention rather than a retrospective description of crisis. Second, we call for continued attention to protect civilians as well as their conditions for and objects indispensable to their survival. Relevant resolutions can be implemented in a manner that safeguards humanitarian access and systems through which people obtain food. Unilateral export restrictions, excessive market speculation and disruptions to the movement of food, fuel and fertilizer must be addressed through coordinated multilateral action. Food, water and agricultural infrastructure must never be targeted or used as instruments of warfare. Third, Kenya urges the international community to invest in food system resilience before crisis occur to enable food systems to absorb shocks and prevent temporary disruptions from escalating into prolonged hunger and instability. Member states supported by international and regional partners should strengthen agricultural production, water management, infrastructure markets, and diversified supply arrangements. Developing countries should be supported to address food insecurity and unlock their full potential through infrastructure, technology transfer, and predictable investment. Fourth, we encourage strengthening the Secretary General's good office through a more systematic framework that draws on reports, assessments, and advice from United Nations system, regional organizations, scientific institutions to link political mediation with technical, humanitarian and scientific expertise and ensure timely and evidence-based prevention action. Madam President, in conclusion, Kenya underscores clear policy imperative that preventing conflict is also a food security policy. Prevent protecting food system is an essential component of peace and security and investing in resilience constitutes a practical form of conflict prevention. I thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thailand would like to commend Denmark for convening this very timely and important debate. And we would like to thank all briefers for their insights. The figures that we have heard today are stark, such as the Food Program's calculation that 70% of people facing acute food insecurity live in conflict affected countries. Disruptions have driven up oil and fertilizer prices, placing immense pressure on food security and putting up to 45 million more people at risk of hunger. Therefore, On my country, I would like to highlight three key points. First of all, ensuring access to food during armed conflict is non-negotiable. All parties must uphold and fully comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians and show life timely and unimpeded humanitarian access, and of course, refrain from using starvation as a method of warfare. In line with sustainable development goal two on zero hunger, conflict should not reverse progress toward protecting those in vulnerable situations. Secondly, strengthening resilient food system is key to withstanding disruptions to global trade and supply chains. Thailand advocates for an open, transparent, predictable, and rule-based multilateral trading system. that facilitates the uninterrupted flow of food and agricultural inputs, especially during crisis. We must also build resilience by boosting domestic capacity and promoting precision, smart and sustainable farming to protect livelihoods, mitigate primary driver of conflict and contribute to lasting peace. And thirdly, climate action is indispensable to achieving long-term food security as climate change acts as a threat multiplier. Thailand remains firmly committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and reaffirms that the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement must remain the cornerstone of global climate governance. We must advance both mitigation and adaptation efforts in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We indeed call on developed countries to fulfill their financial commitments to support developing countries' climate action. Madam President, there can be no lasting peace without full security and no full security where conflict continues to destroy livelihoods. We must prevent crises before they escalate and exercise utmost restraint, refrain from the use of force and pursue diplomatic means for the peaceful settlement of disputes. In conclusion, as the world's eighth largest exporter of agricultural and food producers, Thailand remains committed to being a trusted partner in promoting global food security to ensure that food remains accessible to all. Thank you very much for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of Thailand for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Belgium.

Madam President, colleagues, Belgium aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and its Member States and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity. At a time when conflict is increasingly driving food insecurity, both within and far beyond areas of hostilities, today's debate is particularly timely. We thank the Presidency for convening it as well as the Secretary General, Acting Executive Director Scar and Dr. Benoit for the clarity of their briefings and recommendations. In too many situations, hunger is no longer merely a consequence of conflict. It is the result of choices made by parties to conflict. Resolution 2417 provides us with a strong framework for action. our responsibility now is to turn its commitments into concrete results. Allow me to highlight three points. First, starvation must simply never be used as a weapon of war. Starvation of civilians is prohibited under international humanitarian law. Attacks on food production and agricultural infrastructure, as well as the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian assistance, have devastating consequences for civilians. The Security Council has a responsibility not only to respond to food crisis, but also to address the conditions that create them and ensure that early warning leads to early action. Upholding international law and accountability must be part of that response. Second, we must better anticipate the wider consequences of conflict on global food security. Conflicts disrupt markets, maritime routes, energy flows, and supply chains. They destroy livelihoods, displace communities, and restrict access to land, water, essential services, and humanitarian corridors. Today's unsown fields become tomorrow's failed harvests. Those already facing food insecurity pay again the highest price. At the same time, climate-related shocks are increasingly compounding conflict-related vulnerabilities. The cost of prevention is invariably lower than the cost of crisis response. This is why Belgium strongly supports anticipatory action, prevention and resilience building. Third, humanitarian and resilience actors need adequate and predictable financing. Belgium remains a principal donor committed to providing a mix of core funding and flexible, predictable, multi-year and needs-based humanitarian funding. We particularly value the role of the Central Emergency Response Fund and other pooled funds, which ensure that resources reach people where needs are greatest and enable humanitarian actors to respond rapidly and efficiently to emerging crises. We thank all donors who continue to support pooled funds and we will continue to advocate for high quality core funding. Madam President, to conclude, hunger in conflict is not inevitable. Too often people starve, not because warning signs were absent, but because protection failed, access was denied and action came too late. Humanitarian assistance alone cannot solve this challenge. We must also address the conflicts, insecurity and structural vulnerabilities that drive food insecurity in the first place. Belgium calls for a principled, preventive and protection-centred response, one that places the dignity and survival of civilians at its core. I thank you.

Thank you for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Ireland.

Madam President, many thanks to Denmark for putting a spotlight on this critical issue. I also thank the Secretary-General and the others for the briefing provided earlier. Ireland aligns with the statements by the European Union and the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, which we co-chair with Sierra Leone. The recent and shameful experience of famine in Gaza and Sudan calls for decisive responses to roll back man-made and conflict-induced starvation. While some contexts have improved, the overall situation, we know, remains profoundly grave. The latest Hunger Hotspots report shows that the populations in Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Nigeria, and Somalia already face or risk entering catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. President, we know that conflict remains the leading driver of food insecurity in a context where parties to conflict too often disregard their obligations under international humanitarian law. This is unacceptable. We therefore call on all member states to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. I want to highlight two particular contexts in that regard. In Sudan, Attacks on civilians and the destruction of infrastructure and goods essential for their survival are intensifying, with 14 areas at risk of famine. As a member of the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan, we call on the RSF and SAF to protect civilians, including by ending the use of hunger as a weapon of war. Despite progress, the entire Gaza Strip is still in a crisis level of food insecurity and malnutrition. Aid access has been reduced since February, while economic recovery is held back by restrictions on imports, including of non-dual use agricultural inputs such as seeds. We call on Israel to remove restrictions on aid access to Gaza in line with its commitments under the peace plan and its obligations under international humanitarian law. We also support EU action in response to Israel's breaches of international law there. Madam President, through our EU Presidency programme, Ireland is facilitating discussions on advancing food security and nutrition, focusing attention on addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and elsewhere and backing plans for strengthening the Team Europe approach to humanitarian diplomacy. For our part, Ireland will provide more than EUR 250 million in nutrition intervention and EUR 330 million in humanitarian aid globally this year, while maintaining a strong focus on hunger hotspots. We will continue to partner with organizations, including the UN, the Global Network Against Food Crises, the African Union, and the Global Coalition Against Conflict and Hunger, in fighting food insecurity and malnutrition and upholding the right to adequate food. Madam President, I thank you.

I thank the representative of Ireland for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of El Salvador.

Thank you very much, Madam President. We thank you for convening this high-level debate, and without a doubt, as we've heard throughout today, the issue of food security is very well documented and the relationship between conflict and food security is very well documented. Conflicts continue to worsen access of populations of food, water and livelihoods and also aggravate pre-existing vulnerabilities and prolong their effects beyond the immediate duration of hostilities. These patterns confirm a reality that the council recognized eight years ago now in resolution 2417 in 2018. Hunger related to conflict is not just a humanitarian consequence, but rather a challenge that can have broader implications for international peace and security. For El Salvador, the real challenge now is making progress with existing commitments to move towards more effective implementation. To achieve this, first of all, we must guarantee full respect for international humanitarian law. The use of hunger against civilian populations as a method of warfare is unacceptable. It's therefore necessary to broaden our understanding of the harm caused by conflicts, As the Secretary-General has said, the consequences cannot be measured exclusively by the number of victims immediately, but destruction or degradation of agricultural lands, irrigation systems, markets, water networks, energy infrastructure or supply routes can have indirect effects and cumulative effects that can persist for years and seriously compromise the livelihoods of regions, countries and entire communities. Secondly, Madam President, we must strengthen the preventive dimension of resolution 2417. Early warning mechanisms enable us to identify the contexts where food insecurity is quickly getting worse as a result of conflicts. However, how useful these tools are depends on our ability to translate the information available into timely actions. The Council should not be reduced to reacting once a situation has reached critical levels. It must use the information provided by the whole of the UN system more systematically and strengthen coordination with humanitarian actors and other specialized actors, particularly when there are clear risks to food security and the livelihoods of civilian populations. And this preventive dimension is all the more relevant when we see the effects that conflicts can have beyond the areas that are directly affected, like disruption to supply chains, to markets, to trade routes, or access to essential inputs. Thirdly, El Salvador believes that it's essential to link this discussion to peacebuilding. Our own national experience has taught us that the end of hostilities is an essential condition for peace. However, it is not sufficient to sustain peace. Armed conflict has had a profound impact on rural communities, has caused displacements and had consequences on production, access to land and livelihood. The peacebuilding process required therefore not only political and institutional reforms, but also measures geared towards reintegration, economic recovery and the rebuilding of the communities that were affected. Our experience informs our belief that food security and the recovery of people's livelihoods must be part of a comprehensive vision of prevention and peacebuilding. In this context, Madam President, the PBC has a particularly relevant role. Its ability to bring together the UN system, international financial institutions and other partners to discuss priorities defined nationally can contribute to addressing more coherently the causes and consequences of food insecurity in contexts affected by armed conflict. What's more, the PBC can support international attention beyond the immediate response, promote long-term approaches focused on resilience for communities and facilitating better articulation between prevention, development and peacebuilding. And Madam President, the regulatory normative framework exists and early warning systems are in place. Our challenge is Ensuring that our response is not restricted to managing the immediate consequences of crises, but rather that it incorporates a preventive and long term perspective. And for my country, this involves protecting the civilian population during conflicts, acting in a timely manner when we see risks of food insecurity and supporting. recovering livelihoods, strengthening resilience, and rebuilding communities as a comprehensive part of our efforts to build and to sustain peace. Thank you very much.

Thank you, representative of El Salvador, for the statement. There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. I intend, with the concurrence of members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The meeting is suspended.