(Resumed) Maintenance of international peace and security - Security Council, 10213th meeting

The 10213th meeting of the Security Council is resumed. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than five minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to begin to bring their remarks to a close after five minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. The Philippines thanks Denmark for convening this timely open debate. We also thank the Secretary-General and briefers for their insights yesterday. Eight years after the adoption of Resolution 2417, conflict-induced hunger continues across many parts of the world. Today's conflicts not only devastate local food production, but also disrupt energy flows, fertilizer supplies, humanitarian logistics, and land and maritime trade routes, with consequences that extend far beyond their immediate theaters of hostilities. We therefore wish to highlight the following. The Security Council should make fuller use of Resolution 2417's early warning function. When conflict threatens food systems, humanitarian operations, or regional and global supply chains, Early warning should trigger diplomatic engagement and preventive action. Parties to armed conflict must respect and protect civilians and civilian objects indispensable to their survival, facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, and ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. For an archipelagic state such as the Philippines, food security extends beyond the land, as this Council has recognized, Armed conflict undermines food security through displacement from land, livestock grazing areas, and fishing grounds. Civilian access to traditional fishing grounds and other fishing areas promote food security and resilience of coastal communities. Coercive actions, insecurity, or other constraints that prevent fishers from safely accessing vital fishing grounds undermine livelihoods, reduce food availability, and heighten the vulnerability of at-risk populations. Safeguarding fisheries, maritime food supply routes, and sea lanes of communication, as well as food production and distribution systems, should therefore form an integral part of implementing resolution 2417. The Philippines supports the use of the Secretary-General's good offices to help preserve humanitarian corridors and protect civilian food supply routes, both on land and at sea. In this regard, the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes reminds us that good offices, mediation, conciliation, and other peaceful means under Chapter VI of the UN Charter are indispensable tools for preventing disputes from escalating into armed conflict. Investing in preventive diplomacy supported by expertise and strengthened through cooperation among member states, regional organizations, international financial institutions, humanitarian actors, as well as the private sector, will help build more resilient food systems and mitigate the humanitarian consequences of future geopolitical shocks. Mr. President, the surest way to prevent hunger is to prevent conflict. Respect for international law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and accountability for violations of international humanitarian law are necessary to safeguard human dignity, food security, and international peace and security. All Member States must work to ensure that Resolution 2417 is translated into meaningful action so that no civilian is deprived of food as a consequence or as an instrument of armed conflict. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Philippines for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Vietnam.

Mr. President, Vietnam thanks Denmark for convening this timely debate at a time when the conflict hunger nexus, as confirmed in the Council resolution 2417, is more pronounced than ever. Conflict remains the leading driver of global food insecurity. At the same time, food insecurity often compounded by climate extremes, is itself a root cause of the resource-driven conflicts. As a result, a staggering 266 million people worldwide are facing crisis level of hunger, notably in Gaza, Sudan, the Sahel, and Afghanistan, a stark indictment of our collective failure to protect the most vulnerable and a wake-up call for a comprehensive approach to address it. As a country that has experienced such impacts firsthand, Having risen from the ruin of war and hunger to a nation at peace and a major food producer and exporter, we reaffirm our full commitment to Resolution 2417. Yet nearly eight years on, its promise remains unfulfilled. In this regard, allow us to offer three recommendations. First, we need a comprehensive approach to address holistically the root cause of conflict, including food insecurity. Prevention is better than cure. The culture should give full effect to the early warning and prevention tools of resolution 2417 and countries should make full use of the UN systems, including the UNJSC's good office, so that risk to food systems, including hotspots and disruption to supply chains, are identified and acted upon before they escalated into catastrophe. Second. Parties to conflict must comply fully with international law, including humanitarian law. Civilians and objects indispensable to their survival must be protected in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2573. Humanitarian access must be safe, rapid, unimpeded, and civilian food supply routes must be safeguarded. The use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited and must end. Third, the international community should invest in resilient, self-reliant food systems with enhanced technical assistance and knowledge sharing for the most food insecure and import-dependent countries. At the same time, unilateral restrictive measures that hamper countries' ability to ensure food security should be lifted. Our region offers useful experience. the ASEAN integrated food security framework, the ASEAN plus three emergency rice reserve have strengthened regional preparedness against shocks. Vietnam also supports South South corporations as an effective means to build food system resilience among developing countries. As one of the world's leading rice exporter and a long standing contributor to global food security, we remain committed to working on with own partners so that no community in any land is left to hunger amid conflicts. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Vietnam for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Spain. You have the floor, please.

Madam President.

President, Spain is grateful for the convening of this open debate on the role of the Security Council on a matter of increasing relevance for international peace and security, which is food security in crisis contexts. The current disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz clearly illustrates the link between conflicts and hunger. The drastic reduction in transit through a strategic route for oil and fertilizers is leading to significant disruptions to global agricultural supply chains, which is increasing the cost of energy and affecting global supply chains and increasing many countries' vulnerability. We believe that the Security Council and the international community should put food security at the heart of their efforts to prevent conflicts and to protect civilians. First of all, the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2417 is critical to preempt and mitigate the effects of geopolitical crises, in particular to prevent food crises before they lead to widespread famine, forced displacements, or new factors of instability. If the Council is able to act early by cooperating with UN system specialized agencies such as the FAO and the World Food Programme, then this can facilitate more rigorous risk assessments and robust follow-up. Spain also supports the strengthened role of the Secretary-General in the use of his good offices to prevent and mitigate food crises linked to conflicts. Secondly, the Council must uphold international humanitarian law in all contexts. The use of hunger as a weapon of war, strictly prohibited by resolution 2417, attacks on agricultural infrastructure, restrictions to humanitarian aid or the destruction of critical goods for people's survival are all unacceptable. And those who are responsible for these acts must be accountable. Thirdly, we must take on comprehensive responses that address the root causes of food crises. Humanitarian action is critical, but it's not enough on its own. Spain is committed to this approach. The Spanish strategy for humanitarian diplomacy puts the fight against hunger as one of our priorities. Spain has also moved forward measures to strengthen the implementation of the aforementioned resolution, strengthening international follow-up and promoting accountability for violations that lead to food insecurity in conflict contexts. In June 2025, we promoted with Palestine a resolution on humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which called for the lifting on restrictions to humanitarian access. We also stressed the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and the obligation that parties have to facilitate humanitarian access in Gaza and in line with the rulings and the advisory opinions of the ICJ on the obligations that Israel has as the occupying power in the occupied Palestinian territories. Including in contexts of armed conflicts, food security and nutritional security are priorities for Spain. Last year, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development allocated some 30 million euros to humanitarian interventions for food security in areas such as Palestine, Lebanon, Mali, Venezuela and Haiti through partners such as the WPF, UNICEF and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, as well as Spanish and foreign NGOs. President, food security is a critical condition for stability, resilience and lasting peace. Spain reaffirms its commitment to preventing food crises, to protecting civilians, to ensuring respect for international humanitarian law and strengthening more inclusive and more resilient food systems. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Spain for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

President, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela recognizes the urgent need to address food security in this context, and we welcome the convening of this meeting. It is well known that this year, 2026, the world continues to go through a multifaceted crisis, one of the most clear manifestations of this is increasing food insecurity, which has reached alarming levels. Some 7.8% of the global population suffers chronic hunger, while 25.8% are facing moderate or serious food insecurity. This means that more than a quarter of humanity currently lacks consistent access to adequate food. Although historic disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic deepened existing vulnerabilities, the current situation also is as a result of structural factors that continue to get worse. We're continuing to see the effects of climate change, social factors, volatility in markets, and increasing macroeconomic instability, as well as prolonged conflicts. These factors affect the supply of food and they make food more expensive and they make it harder for states to ensure that they can guarantee people's human rights, in particular the rights to adequate nutrition. We must stress the importance of getting rid of a factor that only worsens the situation at the local, national and international level, which is to say, unilateral coercive measures. These measures exacerbate food insecurity, they deepen economic crises, they choke off financial flows and they make imports more expensive and limit access to essential inputs for food production. Global food insecurity is a generational challenge that requires the ambitious goal of liberating, of freeing the world from hunger. An essential step in that direction is to resolve the major bottlenecks in global supply chains, to reduce the prohibitive cost of maritime transport and guarantee equal access to modern technologies. Many developing nations have vast agricultural potential and they are prepared to act as trustworthy providers of grain and fertilizers for the global market, provided that the structural barriers that are currently in place to do this are dismantled. We welcome the long-term initiative that countries in the global south have moved forward to strengthen food security and sovereignty, including those to facilitate cooperation to achieve development, to broaden productive capacities and to establish mechanisms for the direct supply of grain to the regions that most require that, particularly in Africa. All international assistance in this area must be provided in line with the principles established in line with the relevant resolution of the General Assembly and it must always have the explicit consent of the state affected. President, the path to overcome food insecurity and hunger means adopting inclusive measures and innovative measures strictly pursuant to international law. Restrictions to international trade, protectionist economic barriers and a lack of technology transfer make it harder for us to achieve our objectives and they jeopardize the lives of millions of human beings throughout the world. Achieving absolute food sovereignty through cooperation and alliances is our moral responsibility for present and future generations. We still have time to act. We still have time to rise to the challenges so that we can make sure that there is no hunger in the world and that everybody has the right to food and that this is realized for everybody. With political will, with cooperation, and with renewed commitment to multilateralism, we can achieve all of these goals. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Lebanon.

Mr. President, Lebanon thanks Denmark for convening this timely debate and thanks the Secretary General and the briefers for their important contributions. Eight years ago, through resolution 2417, this Council recognized the link between armed conflict, hunger and food insecurity and acknowledged the threats to international peace and security. Today, the challenge before us is no longer one of recognition, It is one of implementation. How do we translate early warning into early action, humanitarian principles into protection, and our collective commitment into prevention? According to 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, an estimated 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, while 2.1 billion, more than one quarter of humanity, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Behind the figures lie catastrophic conflict-driven crises. In 2025, 266 million people in 47 food crisis-affected countries faced acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse. Famine was confirmed in Gaza and Sudan, among others. These are not merely humanitarian statistics. They are warnings to this Council. Mr. President, food systems are deeply interconnected. Disruptions to maritime routes, energy flows, fertilizers, agricultural production, and humanitarian logistics can rapidly carry the effects of conflict far beyond the battlefield. For Lebanon, food security is both an urgent national priority and a longstanding multilateral commitment. Lebanon can attest to the consequences of compounded crises. Today, existing vulnerabilities are being dramatically aggravated by the ongoing Israeli aggression. The human cost has been devastating, but the consequences extend beyond the immediate humanitarian emergency. The aggression has struck at the very foundations of our food security and food system. Agricultural land, civilian infrastructure, rural livelihood, food productions, production markets and supply chains have been severely hit. Occupation, widespread displacement, crop losses, and disruptions of agri-food markets have undermined the livelihoods of entire communities and that of a whole country. Mr. President, Lebanon remains committed to a broader vision of food security at the multilateral level, one that is rooted in health, local production, cultural heritage, biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience. This guided, for instance, Lebanon's initiative within the General Assembly back in 2022, together with a core group to advance a resolution on the state of global food insecurity, eventually adopted by consensus, to mobilize international action at the time of rapidly deteriorating global food security and rising humanitarian needs. Mr. President, resolution 2417 must be fully implemented. and international humanitarian law must be at all times respected. Starvation must never be used as a method of war and the right to food must be protected. Impunity is not an option and accountability must be ensured. Second, early warning must become early action. This council should act before warnings become tragedies. Third, critical routes for food, energy, fertilizer, fertilizers and humanitarian supplies must remain open. Fourth, resilience must begin from the first day of an emergency. Mr. President, preventing hunger is not marginal to the mandate of this council. It is an investment in peace and a duty under the sustainable development goals. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Lebanon for the statement, and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Paul Beresford Hill, permanent observer of the sovereign order of Malta to the United Nations. You have the floor, sir, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, we congratulate Denmark on its presidency of the Security Council this month, and we express our sincere appreciation for facilitating our contribution. Mr. President, food security is the foundation for human survival. When it is threatened, populations are displaced, they become malnourished, and people die. Despite the UN's efforts towards Sustainable Development Goal 2, to eliminate hunger, the numbers facing food insecurity have doubled since 2016, a consequence of conflict, weather disaster, economic shocks. But additionally, we are seeing a worrying trend in the weaponization of food insecurity, despite the unanimous adaptation of resolution 28 in 2018 of resolution 2417. The Order of Malta strongly condemns any practice that harms civilians through purposefully depriving them of food. As a neutral, impartial actor in international human affairs, we have been serving the vulnerable for over 900 years. Central to our mission throughout that time period is a belief in the sanctity of life, a belief that is at the core of the United Nations itself. and which is reflected in this organ's mandate to preserve the peace of humanity. Last February, we organized a side event on global food insecurity at the Munich Security Conference. The event included contributions with key representatives from UNDP, IFAD, WFP, and the FAO. Central to the discussion was a recognition that disruptions to the global supply chain, not only through the Straits of Hormuz, but also in the Red and Black Seas, have sufficiently aggravated food insecurity worldwide. The impact of grain and fertilizer export disruptions has had a significant influence and effect on the famine crisis in significant areas of Africa, none of which is helped by the waging of regional wars and conflict aggravated by external actors. Our teams on the ground operating in many conflict zones experience the consequence of these disruptions, firsthand when rising fuel and food costs coupled with damage to roads and infrastructure make the delivery of supplies to rural communities difficult, if not impossible. Despite these challenging conditions between 2022 and 2026, In Ukraine, for example, our international relief agency has reached hundreds of thousands of families with food kits, never enough. However, looking further afield, farmlands peppered by mines and drone attacks on grain storage facilities, particularly near key ports, have led to a 76% year-on-year reduction in grain exports to areas of the world that can ill afford a further loss of food. Our colleagues serving medical facilities in the West Bank report significant physical wasting and growth stunting among the children they support. with fuel and food supplies being slow to enter the Strip and fresh food spoiling due to unreliable electricity supply. Across the West Bank, disruption of crops and water systems, in addition to a lack of a national safety net, means that many families are worried about how they will feed their children in the coming inclement winter months. Our diplomatic sources tell us that 38% of children in the West Bank are only eating one meal a day. Mr. President, scripture reminds us that, quote, "If anyone has the world's goods and sees his neighbor is in need, yet closes his heart against him, how can God's love abide there?" We have often said it often enough here at the Security Council that our planet has enough food resources to feed everyone. It is our view as an exponent of humanitarian diplomacy that the leadership of the Security Council is imperative in ensuring that all governments, take a multilateral perspective when it comes to guaranteeing that citizens of all nations have sufficient sustenance. I thank you.

I thank his excellency Mr. Beresford Hill for his statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, President. A bomb can destroy a field in seconds. A blockade can empty a market in days, but the hunger that follows can destabilize communities for years. That is why the issue of conflict-driven hunger belongs to this Council. Resolution 2417 gave this Council the tools, but the gap is its implementation. Let me make a few points. First, early warning must trigger early attention of the Council. The Council should not wait for a declaration of famine. When conflict disrupts shipping lanes, energy flows, agricultural production, or humanitarian access, the Secretary-General should alert members quickly. These alerts should identify the transmission channels, the country's most exposed, and practical options for prevention. WFP, FAO and OCHA already generates much of this information. That information needs to reach the council faster in a form that supports decisions. Second, we must protect the system that keeps civilians fed. That means farms and fisheries, markets, ports and warehouses, country specific mandates and should systematically produce attacks on these assets and obstruction of humanitarian access. Where starvation is used as a method of warfare or aid is deliberately blocked, there must be investigation and accountability. Nowhere is this use of hunger as a weapon more evident than in Gaza. The MoLDIS condemns Israel's deliberate deprivation of food and humanitarian relief from reaching Palestinian civilians. This cannot be treated as an unavoidable consequence of conflict. Israel must allow safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access and resources that deprive civilians of food and other essentials and comply fully with its international obligations under international humanitarian law. Those responsible for using starvation against civilians must be held accountable. Third, food security must be part of preventive diplomacy. The Secretary-General's good offices should be used to negotiate arrangements that keep food, fuel, and humanitarian cargo moving through contested land routes and maritime choke points. Technical mapping by UN agencies should support these efforts. Fourth, resilience must also require actions by this chamber. International financial institutions should be able to rapidly deploy affordable financing when geopolitical shocks cause sudden increases in food, fuel and fertilizer import bills. Partners should help highly exposed countries diversify supplies and transport routes. And early warnings must be matched by rapidly deployable humanitarian financing before conditions deteriorate. For the Maldives, Distance offers little protection from conflict. We import around 90% of our food. When conflict disrupts maritime routes, these effects are transmitted rapidly through higher costs and ultimately higher food prices. That is why the Council must look beyond the immediate threat, theater of conflict and consider disproportionate consequences for import dependent and highly exposed economies. This Council, of course, cannot grow food, but it can act before conflict turns scarcity into famine. When the warning signs are clear, inaction is a choice. Resolution 2417 must ensure that this Council chooses prevention. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Maldives for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.

Thank you, Mr. President. Timor-Leste thanks Denmark for convening this important debate and acknowledge the presence of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday. We appreciate the briefers' insight and reaffirm our strong support for resolutions 2449 and 2450. 17, which underscored the vital link between armed conflict, food insecurity, and international peace and security. Mr. President, armed conflict remains a primary driver of acute food insecurity. Its consequences extend far beyond the battlefield. Conflict destroys agricultural productions, displaces communities, disrupts energy and fertilizer supplies, obstructs land and maritime trade routes, weakens local markets, and restricts humanitarian operations. In our interconnected world, these effects do not remain within national borders. Disruptions in one region can rapidly increase food prices, transport costs, and supply pressures elsewhere, with particularly severe consequences for least developed, small island, and import-dependent countries. Recent confirmations of famine in conflict-affected areas are an urgent warning. Famine is rarely caused by food scarcity alone. Conflict, displacement, destructions and livelihood, restrictions of humanitarian access and corruption services turn vulnerability into catastrophe. International humanitarian law is clear. Civilian must be protected, relief must be enabled and starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited. Drawing from Timor-Leste's own experience of conflict, displacement and hunger, we highlighted four priorities. First, we must strengthen implementations of the early warning provisions of the resolutions 2417. Deteriorating food security should trigger early diplomatic and preventive action. We must end before hunger becomes famine. Second, we must ensure safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access. Humanitarian personnel and operations must be protected with particular attention to vulnerable and import dependent countries facing disruptions in food, energy, fertilizer, and transport markets. Third, emergency assistance must be accompanied by long-term resilience. We need strong cooperation among member states, the United Nations, international financial institutions, and regional organizations to support climate resilience, agriculture, diversified supply chain, food storage, and accessible financial for smallholder farmers. Fourth, Timor-Leste support the Secretary-General's good offices, stronger preventive diplomacy, and including negotiations -- negotiating humanitarian arrangement, the complications -- the conflicts mechanism, and the protections of critical supply routes. Mr. President, food insecurity is not solely a humanitarian challenge. It undermines social cohesion, displacement, depends fragility, and can contribute to further instability. Conflict produces hunger and weakens the foundations of peace. The Security Council therefore has an important responsibility to help break this cycle. Resolutions 2470 must translate into early warning, preventive diplomacy, protections of civilians, humanitarian access, and accountability. Mr. President, Timor-Leste reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and international law. We stand ready to work with all Member States to ensure no civilian is forced to endure hunger as a consequence of armed hostilities. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Timor-Leste for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.

Thank you, Mr. President. distinguished member of the Security Council. Angola commends Denmark on its able leadership of the Security Council presidency and for convening this important debate. We express our appreciation to the UN Secretary-General and to the distinguished briefers for their insightful presentation yesterday. Mr. President, this debate takes place at a pivotal moment. Food security is under tremendous pressure from supply chains to rising prices. High level of instability on the main maritime routes has led to fertilizer shortages and high fuel prices, driving millions of people into acute hunger. Rising fertilizer costs associated with adverse effect of climate change would reduce agricultural productivity in upcoming season and have long-term effects on food availability globally. In addition, the current global geopolitical tension are driving global food insecurity with unpredictable consequences for the future. Mr. President, allow me to make three brief points. First, Food insecurity is no longer a humanitarian or development issue. It can directly threaten international peace and security. Conflict-induced food insecurity is now the primary driver of hunger and famine globally. Millions of people around the world are experiencing unprecedented high level of food insecurity. This is not only an African problem or Middle East problem. neither a European or North American problem. And this is not an Asian or Latin American problem. This is a global crisis that affects every region of the world, particularly in conflict-affected zones. So it requires a global coordinated response. Conflicts destroy farms, markets, infrastructures, and supply routes, while restriction on humanitarian access can turn food shortage into famine. The relationship between conflict and hunger is reciprocal. Severe hunger and fuel displacement, social unrest, competition of resources and armed conflicts. The second point is that Security Council has a unique responsibility in addressing conflict driven food insecurity and mitigating global and local food crisis. Resolution 2417 recognized the impact of armed conflict on food security and calls for integrated actions. It sets a clear link between food insecurity with Security Council peace and security mandates. The Security Council has a unique role and it can demand humanitarian access, support ceasefire, strengthening accountability, investigate and document violations, authorize appropriate peacekeeping and break cycle of conflict, anger and instability. Third, The Security Council should move from reactive humanitarian assistance to bolder preventive action. As the Secretary-General stated yesterday, we have to act while the warning lights are flashing. Early warning information from organizations such as WFP and FAO can be used to identify situations where conflict is likely to produce famine. We must reinforce the protection of food system, including farms, food warehouses, water infrastructures, ports, markets and agricultural workers during a conflict. In this regard, long-term resilience can only be achieved by investing in local agriculture, climate resilient food systems, social protection and rebuilding damaged infrastructure. Mr. President, to conclude, we would like to say that food must never be used as a weapon of war, and hunger must never be allowed to become a consequence that the international community simply accepts and tolerates. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Angola for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.

Thank you, President. Guatemala thanks Denmark for convening this open debate and recognizes the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Rasmussen, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Denmark, and also the briefings that were given yesterday by the Secretary General and the Executive Director of the WFP. Although global hunger went down for the third consecutive year, Some 645 million people continued to go hungry last year. This progress, however, is not reflected in the same way in all regions and contexts. In conflicts, violence destroys livelihoods, it chokes off access to food, and it continues to be one of the main causes of acute food insecurity. Consequences are not just limited to hostility areas. The interruption of trade flows, energy flows and fertilizer transport, as well as humanitarian operations, have an impact on countries that are far from conflicts. Guatemala thinks it's critical to ensure the full implementation of resolution 2417. We need to protect civilians, guarantee safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian aid and preserve the systems and infrastructure that are critical for the production and distribution of food. We also need to strengthen early warning and preventive action to avoid food crises, deepen instability, displacement and conflicts. We also believe that the Secretary-General's good offices need to be used in a timely way. We also need to use the available scientific and technical experience to protect food systems, supply chains and local markets. Mr. President, Guatemala is well aware of all of these challenges. We are a country that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and we are facing every year increasingly challenging circumstances as a result. We are particularly concerned by the evolution of the El Nino phenomenon this year and its effects that are already being seen on rain patterns, agricultural production and people's livelihoods. The impact of this can exacerbate global food insecurity, particularly in the most vulnerable countries and communities. Guatemala continues to advocate for a preventive and intersectoral approach to address these challenges through initiatives such as the Hand by Hand strategy, we are taking actions in the domains of nutrition, health, agriculture, water, housing and social protection, focusing on the most vulnerable in our society. We are convinced that preventing hunger also means investing in conflict prevention and peace building. Food should never be used as a weapon of war. Protecting food systems and ensuring humanitarian access are responsibilities that we must all shoulder. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Guatemala for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka thanks Denmark for convening this important debate in its capacity as President of the Security Council. We welcome comprehensive briefings from the esteemed presenters, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We also welcome the opportunity to reflect on the nexus between armed conflict, food insecurity and international peace and security. Sri Lanka reiterates its deep concern that hunger continues to affect millions of people around the world, while conflict remains one of the principal drivers of acute food insecurity. The adoption of Security Council Resolution 2417 was an important recognition that conflict and hunger are mutually reinforcing. Yet, the persistence of food crises in situations of conflict demonstrates that we must do more to translate early warning into timely preventive action. Food insecurity does not stop at the borders of a conflict. Conflicts and instability in a single region can disrupt energy and maritime routes, raise transport and production costs. and place further pressure on food importing developing countries already facing acute food insecurity. Such shocks can have consequences far beyond the immediate conflict. Sri Lanka has experienced firsthand how external economic and geopolitical shocks can affect food and energy security, livelihoods, and the well-being of vulnerable communities. This experience has reinforced our conviction that food security must be approached not only through emergency response, but also through prevention, resilience and international cooperation. At the national level, Sri Lanka places food and nutrition security at the center of its development priorities. Under our national nutrition policy initiatives have been undertaken to ensure that every citizen has access to adequate and appropriate food and nutrition, irrespective of geographical location or socioeconomic status. Sri Lanka considers sustainability to be a cornerstone of its national policies, recognizing that resilient food systems are essential to protecting populations against both immediate crises and future shocks. Mr. President, Sri Lanka believes that the Security Council can make better use of the early warning framework established through Resolution 2417. Early warning is meaningful only when it leads to early action. We therefore encourage closer and more systematic engagement between the Security Council and relevant United Nations entities so that emerging food security risks in conflict situations can be brought to the Council's attention at an early stage. In this regard, we see value in strengthening three mutually reinforcing areas. First, the Council should strengthen its ability to identify food security risks before they develop into humanitarian emergencies and consider how such information can inform the Secretary-General's good offices, mediation and conflict prevention efforts. Preventing conflict remains the most effective means of preventing conflict-induced hunger. Second, civilians must not be deprived of food as a consequence of armed conflict. Humanitarian personnel must be able to reach affected populations safely and without impediment. At the same time, international efforts should seek to protect the systems through which food reaches populations, including agricultural production, transport networks, and maritime routes. Third, the international community must support vulnerable and food import dependent countries in strengthening resilient food systems. This requires cooperation not only among states, but also across the United Nations system, international financial institutions. regional organizations and humanitarian actors. Sri Lanka also emphasizes the importance of addressing the disproportionate consequences borne by developing countries. A conflict occurring in one region should not translate into hunger and economic hardship for vulnerable populations thousands of kilometers away. The international community must therefore consider the wider and indirect consequences of regional conflicts, particularly on countries that are highly dependent on imported food, fertilizer, energy and maritime trade. Mr. President, food security is ultimately inseparable from peace and stability. Hunger can deepen poverty, drive displacement, exacerbate social tensions and contribute to further instability. Conversely, conflict destroys the agricultural, economic and social foundations upon which food security depends. Breaking this cycle requires the international community to move beyond responding to hunger after a crisis had already emerged. Sri Lanka remains committed working with the United Nations, member states, regional organizations, international financial institutions, and humanitarian partners to advance resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems, ensuring that no population is left vulnerable to hunger as a consequence of conflict beyond its borders. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Sri Lanka for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Suriname.

Mr. President, I thank Denmark for convening this open debate on the role of the Security Council in mitigating global and local food crises. I thank the Secretary-General and other briefers for their insightful briefings yesterday. I make this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger. Let me thank you for focusing on the evolving challenges that demand our attention now. Tens of millions face emergency levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition, specifically affecting women and children in fragile and conflict-affected contexts such as Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Eastern DRC and Haiti. Conflict has been the main driver. We note that practices prohibited under international humanitarian law can allow conflict to drive hunger. Ongoing conflicts, elevated fertilizer, energy, and transport prices, humanitarian and development funding costs, and the 2026-27 El Nino come on top of existing political, economic, and climate challenges and may push several contexts into famine. We therefore urgently call on the Council and all States to do much more to respect international humanitarian law, ensure respect for relevant international humanitarian law and prevent and implement resolution 2417, and to take evidence-based action. The arbitrary withholding of humanitarian access, attacks on aid workers, The deliberate destruction of food infrastructure and use of starvation as a method of warfare must end now. Such practices need to be prevented, tracked more effectively, and condemned. We must ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. This can also change conduct. We also call for adequate funding, greater coherence between political, development, and humanitarian action, strong collaboration with regional organizations, support for resilient food systems, and also prioritization of investments in verified food security and nutrition data, anticipatory and locally led action in line with humanitarian reset. We strongly encourage peace process and military diplomacy initiatives that can help break the vicious cycle between conflict and hunger. Additionally, we call for a resolution of the current conflict and respect for international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Security Council resolution with respect to unimpeded safe and toll-free transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Freedom of navigation through all international waters is critical for the delivery of humanitarian goods as well as for international trade. Finally, we support strengthening resolution 2417's early warning mechanism with facilitation, regional and global reporting. Mr. President, I will now make the following remarks in my national capacity. Hunger and conflict are deeply connected. When conflict distress farms, markets and livelihoods, people go hungry. And when people cannot feed their families, tensions and instability can deepen. Resolution 2417 recognized this link and gave the Security Council an important tool to act. We must therefore act earlier and not wait until famine is upon us. Sierra Leone calls for the Security Council to make fuller use of Resolution 2417 by strengthening early warning and more importantly, early action. While conflict threatens food supplies, the Council should support safe and unhindered humanitarian access, protect food production and civilian supply routes, and encourage the Secretary-General to use his good offices to help keep land and maritime corridors open. We must also strengthen cooperation among the United Nations, regional organizations, international financial institutions, humanitarian partners so that food can reach those who need it most. Starvation must never be allowed to become a weapon of war, and those who deliberately obstruct humanitarian assistance must be held accountable under international law. Finally, Mr. President, prevention also means building stronger food systems at home. For Sierra Leone, this is the thinking behind Feed Sierra Leone, a national initiative to increase domestic food production, strengthen agricultural value chains, support farmers, and reduce vulnerability to external shocks. It is designed to transform Sierra Leone's food systems from subsistence and dependency to a resilient, commercial, nutrition-sensitive, and technology-driven agricultural sector. We believe that food security is not simply an agricultural issue. It is an investment in peace, stability, and national resilience. Sierra Leone, therefore, encourages the Council and the wider international community to invest not only in emergency assistance, but also in resilient local agriculture, infrastructure, storage, markets, and livelihoods. The message is simple. We should not wait for hunger to become a crisis before we act. Preventing conflict, protecting food systems, and ensuring that people can feed their families are essential to sustainable peace. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa. You have the floor, please.

President, the South African delegation thanks Denmark for organizing this opportune debate at a time when the trajectory of conflict-induced food insecurity including famine in situations of armed conflict is worsening. South Africa is deeply concerned by the increasing number of food insecure people and those who experience acute hunger as a result of displacement from agricultural land and agricultural assets, the destruction of livestock, as well as the disruption of food systems due to armed conflict and violence. This remains the primary driver of food insecurity according to the latest World Food Programme report on hunger hotspots. We are also deeply concerned that the UN Secretary-General's latest report on protection of civilians note that more than 147 million people face acute conflict-induced food insecurity, with two human-created famines occurring in the same year in Gaza and Sudan. This disaster illustrates the cost of armed conflict beyond the immediate casualties. The situation is exacerbated by humanitarian constraints, including declining funding, the attacks against humanitarian workers, the lack of access to provide humanitarian aid to rural and isolated areas, as well as the willful attacks against civilian infrastructure, including water, sanitation and health facilities. Extreme weather and variable climate change, global economic insecurity, the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf and its impact on the broader Middle East, choking off important supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, have culminated in a perfect storm harming global food security. South Africa continues to support the peaceful resolution of conflict in the Persian Gulf and that it occurs through dialogue and diplomatic means. The lack of proactive action by the Council remains a concern. Since the adoption of resolution 2417 eight years ago, which condemned the starving of civilians as a method of warfare, as well as the unlawful denial of humanitarian access to civilian populations, the number of conflicts globally has increased and the impact of the most acute crises in Gaza and Sudan have been catastrophic. These are both conflicts where the unlawful denial of humanitarian access has been prevalent. There has to be accountability for this unlawful conduct, especially the most heinous use of hunger as a weapon of war. President, the good offices of the Secretary-General can also be leveraged to intervene early, as well as regional arrangements to address pertinent regional dimensions of conflict. most urgent, however, is the need for targeted humanitarian action to save lives. In this regard, we call upon donors to fulfil their pledges, given that in identified hotspots facing famine, conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly. South Africa always also condemns the close collaboration between the African Union and the World Food Programme, as well as the Food and Agricultural Organisation, to align emergency response with long-term post-conflict recovery agricultural development, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation. Furthermore, the African Union continues to revitalize the comprehensive African agriculture development program and adopted the latest iteration thereof, namely the Kampala CAADP strategy and action plan 2026-2035. This program aims to boost member states agricultural productivity, and to build sustainable and resilient agri-food systems, diversify food resources, ensure food sovereignty, and boost intra-African trade in agricultural products. President, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the work undertaken by peacekeeping missions in various countries to facilitate access to humanitarian aid. We urge cooperation with peacekeeping missions to facilitate such actions through the removal of administrative and bureaucratic impediments. Finally, President, we need to leverage digital technologies, including space technology, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics. These tools can help us anticipate and mitigate the impact of extreme weather events that threaten food production, improve operational efficiency through digitization, increase agricultural output, and build more resilient food systems. The need for humanitarian strategies to deal with disasters as part of national development plans is key. Ultimately, however, the Pacific settlement of disputes and ending armed conflict remains vital to ensure that global efforts to ensure food security are not wantonly undermined. I thank you.

I thank the representative of South Africa for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank Denmark for convening this timely debate. Global food security remains deeply fragile. Despite international efforts, millions of people continue to face hunger and food insecurity, while armed conflicts, affordability and supply distributions continue to pose serious challenges. This is simply unacceptable in the 21st century. Recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated how interruptions to energy and fertilizer supplies can quickly translate into risks to global food security. Strait of Hormuz should be reopened unconditionally without restrictions or tolls in line with international law and without further delay. We need to identify such critical choke points and mitigate their potential impacts before they threaten the resilience of global food systems. Stronger coordination among the UN agencies, international financial institutions, and regional organizations is essential. Mr. President, Turkey has historically been a first responder to humanitarian crises and remains committed to addressing global food insecurity. In 2024, Turkey contributed more than $6 billion to humanitarian activities worldwide. We work closely with partners, including Food and Agricultural Organization the World Food Programme. Turkey is currently World Food Programme's largest supplier in terms of value. Almost 90% of the floor delivered to Gaza is supplied by Turkey. My country has also played a critical role in safeguarding global food supplies. The Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by Turkey and the UN enabled the safe passage of some 33 million tons of grain and agricultural products, helping stabilize global markets and ensuring supplies reach vulnerable populations, particularly in Africa. Mr. President, Gaza and Sudan demonstrate the devastating humanitarian consequences of food insecurity. In Gaza, civilians must not be deprived of food and other essentials necessary for survival. Turkey continues to use every diplomatic channel to ensure immediate and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza. To date, Turkey has delivered more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Sudan is also facing record levels of food insecurity, compounded by conflicts and restrictions on humanitarian access. Turkey continues to provide food and humanitarian assistance in cooperation with the Qatar Fund for Development. The Sahel, likewise, demonstrates how conflict, displacement, and insecurity can deepen food insecurity. Turkey continues to support Sahel countries through humanitarian and development programs, including in agriculture, health, and education. Mr. President, Turkey firmly supports the principles reflected in UN Security Council Resolution 2417 and the relevant norms of international humanitarian law. Starvation of civilians must never be used as a method of warfare, and humanitarian assistance must never be unlawfully denied or obstructed. Turkey strongly advocates for full, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need. The crises in Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere demonstrate that humanitarian assistance alone cannot compensate for failures to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law. Mr. President, my country remains committed to working with all partners to prevent hunger, strengthen resilient food systems, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and contribute to lasting peace and stability. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Turkey for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Burundi.

President, I thank the Danish Presidency for putting food security at the heart of the discussions of the Security Council. Burundi welcomes the recognition of the close links between armed conflict, food insecurity and instability. In many situations, hunger is not only a consequence of conflict, it can also become a factor that exacerbates tensions and the vulnerability of populations. President, peace is a prerequisite for food security. Conflicts destroy livelihoods, displace populations, disrupt supply chains, and reduce access to farmlands and to markets. Women, children, Displaced persons and rural communities are often the primary victims. Burundi reaffirms its commitment to Resolution 2417, adopted in 2018 by the Security Council, which acknowledges the link between armed conflict and food insecurity and condemns the use of famine as a method of warfare against civilian populations. All parties to conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Protection of civilians and safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access must remain priorities. Farmlands, water supply infrastructure, markets, storage facilities, and other essential infrastructure for food production and supplies must be protected. In this regard, we recall the importance of Resolution 2573 of 2021 on the protection of essential civilian infrastructure. President, the role of the Security Council must not be limited to reacting when food crises have reached a critical point. The Council must also strengthen conflict prevention early warnings and preventive diplomacy in order to identify risks before they turn into major humanitarian crises. The effects of conflict often spill over out of zones directly affected by hostilities. Disruption of supply chains, energy flows, access to fertilizer, and to land and sea commercial routes can affect regional and global food systems, especially in countries that are dependent on food imports. This reality is especially important in the Great Lakes region. Conflict and instability disrupt agricultural production, cross-border trade systems, access to markets and livelihoods, while exacerbating population displacement. For Burundi, food security must therefore be viewed as an element of conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the region. In this context, to this day, Burundi has already hosted about 200,000 refugees from the DRC, or 1.5 percent of its population, people who have fled violence in the east of the DRC. Despite the significant efforts made by the government of Burundi and its partners, the situation of these refugees remains alarming, with persistent needs when it comes to food, shelter, water, sanitation, health care, and protection.

Women, children, and other vulnerable persons are especially exposed to this risk.

Burundi therefore calls on the

international community to grant special attention to this situation and to bolster mobilization to address humanitarian needs for these refugees from the DRC and support the communities that are hosting them. This solidarity is crucial to preventing exacerbation of food insecurity and vulnerability, while paving the way for prospects for regional peace and stability. Burundi encourages strengthening early warning mechanisms, as well as information sharing within the UN system, in order to better anticipate the consequences of conflicts on agricultural production, markets, supply chains, and the most vulnerable populations. Responses must be comprehensive and coordinated, taking into account the links between peace, security, sustainable development, climate, and humanitarian action. It is also vital to strengthen national capacities including through supporting local production, family farming, rural infrastructure, and access to seeds and relevant technologies. In the Great Lakes region, facilitating cross-border trade, protection of markets, and development of regional infrastructure can help to strengthen communities' resilience and reduce the effects of food shocks. President Burundi would like to reaffirm the importance of tightened cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations, especially the African Union, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the UN Charter. Regional organizations have crucial knowledge about local realities and play an essential role in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. My delegation would like as well to underscore that food security cannot be detached from issues of development and economic justice. The most vulnerable countries, including in Africa, need greater support to address the combined effects of conflict, climate change, and economic constraints. President, when a population is deprived of food because its farmland has been destroyed by conflict, because markets have become inaccessible, or because humanitarian aid is not reaching those in need, it is peace that suffers. Burundi believes that preventing food insecurity, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening community resilience must be key elements of efforts toward conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The Security Council cannot single-handedly resolve global food crises. However, it can contribute in a pivotal manner to preventing conflict, protecting civilians, upholding international humanitarian law, and paving the way for lasting peace. Burundi therefore calls for collective action based upon international solidarity, respect for state sovereignty, the building up of national capacity, and an equitable partnership with regional organizations. This solidarity must be manifested through special attention toward displaced populations and refugees affected by conflict, including DRC refugees that are being hosted by Burundi, for whom the needs remain high.

It's crucial for financing inadequacies not to compromise their access to food, essential services, and protection. Burundi is convinced that efforts to combat hunger must be viewed as a critical part of our action in favor of peace. We cannot ask populations to build peace while depriving them of food, water, and livelihoods. Similarly, we cannot hope for lasting peace without investing in the economic and social conditions that allow populations to live in dignity. Peace fosters development, and development solidifies peace. Investing in food security means investing in stability, human dignity, and the future of younger generations. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Burundi for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Malaysia.

President, Malaysia thanks Denmark for convening this meeting and the briefers for their valuable insights. Eight years since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2417, Conflict remains a major driver of food insecurity. Today, however, the effects of conflict are increasingly felt far beyond the countries directly affected. Disruptions to energy, fertilizer, and supply chains can raise food costs, with developing countries particularly vulnerable. The Strait of Hormuz disruption highlights this risk. The World Food Programme has warned that continued disruptions could push an additional 45 million people into acute food insecurity, adding to the 318 million already affected globally. Malaysia's Prime Minister has warned that rising fuel prices are driving up fertilizer, transportation and production costs with prolonged disruptions, risking lower agricultural yields and sustained food inflation across not only ASEAN, But globally, this underscores the need to treat food security as a strategic priority. President, Malaysia wishes to highlight three points. First, we must turn early warning into early action. Resolution 2417 provides an important basis for responding to conflict-related food insecurity, requesting the Secretary-General to report swiftly to this Council when the risk of conflict-induced famine and widespread food insecurity arises. This tool must be used more consistently and its warning matched by timely council action. Second, we need practical solutions to keep essential supplies moving. Nesi welcomes the Secretary General's initiative to establish a dedicated task force to explore entry measures to address food insecurity and mitigate disruptions to agricultural supply chains. Nesi supports efforts to operationalize this mechanism with the agreement of the parties concerned. Ensuring access to fertilizer today can help protect harvests and food supplies tomorrow. Third, we need stronger regional resilience. At the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu in May, the Prime Minister of Malaysia proposed that ASEAN urgently explore a regional standby mechanism for food security during crisis to enable faster coordination and emergency response. Malaysia also supports strengthening the ASEAN plus three emergency rice reserve, including by expanding cooperation beyond rice to fertilizer security and accelerating implementation of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement. Regional arrangements of this kind are among the most practical tools available for preparing countries for external shocks and deserve fuller recognition in this Council's work. President, At the same time, we must not lose sight of those facing hunger directly because of conflict. Malaysia remains deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza and Sudan, where famine and hunger remain despite repeated calls for action. International humanitarian law must be upheld. Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited, and safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance must be ensured. The effects of conflict do not stop at borders, with disruptions to energy and fertilizer threatening food prices and future harvests. The Security Council should therefore act not only when hunger reaches catastrophic levels, but also when there are clear warning signs that conflict could threaten wider food security. Malaysia stands ready to work with the United Nations, regional organizations, and other partners to safeguard food supplies, strengthen resilience, and ensure that the most vulnerable do not bear the disproportionate burden of this crisis. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Malaysia for the statement, and I now pass the floor to the representative of Myanmar.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, at the outset, I wish to congratulate Daymar on assuming the presidency and thank you for convening this high-level open debate. I also thank the UN Secretary-General for his remarks and the acting executive director for WFP and the civil society representative for their insightful briefings. Mr. President, Conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity for 147 million people in 2025. No doubt, the impact of regional conflicts and conflicts in general has extended beyond the immediate area of hostilities, disrupting global food, energy, agricultural supply chains, and exacerbating food insecurity. An additional 45 million people are at risk of facing acute food insecurity if the situations remain protracted. It is imperative that the UN, the Security Council, and the member states take a forward-looking approach to secure more resilient food systems and mitigate the impact of future geopolitical shocks on global hunger. At the same time, we thank the Secretary-General for his recent update on the UN task force mechanism to facilitate the movement of goods for humanitarian purposes through the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. President, the prolonged disruption in a critical maritime corridor has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable, particularly those in the least developed countries and conflict-affected situations. The rising prices of commodities, fertilizers and fuel is compounding the already dire humanitarian situation and food insecurity in Myanmar since the illegal military coup. Against this backdrop, I wish to recommend the following concrete measures to the Council to mitigate the food crisis in Myanmar in line with Resolution 2417 as well as Resolution 2669. the military junta to comply with their IHL obligations. The military has been deliberately targeting civilian objects necessary for food productions and indispensable to the survival of the civilian populations. Burning down farms, crops, livestock, agricultural assets, and air strike over market constitute their brutal and inhumane full cut strategy. Indiscriminate violence against civilians by the military has been the biggest driver of forced displacements with devastating impacts on the agricultural productions and livelihoods across the country. Appeasement and unwarranted engagement with the military junta have only emboldened the latter to perpetrate more violence against civilians. Second, enforce appropriate measures against the military junta. The military junta has consistently weaponized humanitarian assistance by obstructing its access and delivery to affected communities. As a recent example, the junta was confiscating essential supplies at checkpoints and arresting civilians for food relief efforts to food victims in central Myanmar. Previously, the council adopted sanctions measures on individuals and entities obstructing the delivery of all access to humanitarian assistance. As such, I urge the Council to produce a follow-up resolution on Myanmar and call upon the Member States to seize the flow of arms, weapons, jet fuel, and other dual-use items and related technologies to the military junta. Third, operationalize the early warning mechanisms. FAO and WFP warn that a total of 12.4 million people in Myanmar are projected to face high level of acute food insecurity, IPC phase three or above by August, including almost one million population in emergency, IPC phase four. Around 360,000 children are expected to be acutely malnourished by September this year, Accordingly, the early warning mechanisms of resolution 2470 must be leveraged for renewed global attention and action on the situation in Myanmar, including the swift reporting by the Secretary-General to the Council. In conclusion, Mr. President, Myanmar underscore the utmost importance of translating the commitments of resolution 2470 into effective actions when armed conflicts threaten food insecurity. conflict induced food insecurity in Myanmar is the direct consequence of the military coup and their widespread campaigns of violence. We all have to be mindful that short-term humanitarian support cannot replace long-term political resolutions and repairing the symptoms of the conflict cannot substitute for addressing the root cause of the conflict. Mr. President, despite facing challenges, The National Unity Government and the Allied Democratic Forces are coordinating through the Steering Council for Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union to address food insecurity and help alleviate the civilian populations from natural and man-made disasters. I urge the international community to support the SDF and the people of Myanmar in our collective efforts to eradicate the military dictatorship and build a Federal Democratic Union. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Myanmar for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Nepal.

Mr. President, Excellencies, dear colleagues, at the outset, I thank the Presidency of Denmark for convening today's timely debate on a very topical issue. I also commend the Secretary-General for his compelling message, as well as the distinguished briefers for their valuable insight and study. Mr. President, food insecurity is not only a humanitarian concern, it is a fundamental challenge to global peace and security, sustainable development, and dignity and well-being of the people everywhere. When food systems collapse, societies become fragile. When hunger takes hold, grievances depend and the foundations of peace begin to fracture. Without food security, the promise of sustainable development goals remains out of reach and peace itself becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. Its conflicts remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity. We are caught in a vicious cycle where conflict and hunger reinforce on another. The world does not suffer from the lack of food alone. Too often it suffers from the unequal access shaped by disparities in distribution, affordability and opportunity. With less than four years until 2030, achieving zero hunger is becoming increasingly daunting. Last year, around 266 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated how conflict can disrupt energy, fertilizer, trade, and supply chains, affecting food availability and prices far beyond the immediate theater of hostilities, particularly in vulnerable and import-dependent countries. Pandemics, climate shocks, and extreme weather further compound these pressures. Just today, Nepal suffered from devastating floods that swept through communities, that devastated crops, and that disrupted essential supply routes. This is a sobering reminder that climate-induced disasters are striking with increasing frequency and ferocity. eroding food systems that have already been weakened by conflict, by economic fragility, and by deep structural vulnerabilities. Against this backdrop, Mr. President, let me put forth a few points. Security Council resolutions 2417 must be fully implemented. All parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law, protect food supply chains and ensure safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access. Starvation must never be used as a method of warfare and accountability must be upheld in line with international law and the UN Charter. Second, the Council must reinforce the link between conflict prevention and food security. Early warning and preventive diplomacy supported by the Secretary-General's good offices, regional cooperations, and peace operations should be activated when credible evidence shows that conflict threatens food systems for humanitarian operations. Peacekeeping missions must have clear and prioritized protection of civilians mandates with adequate resources. Similarly, food security risks should be systematically integrated into peace building so that peace dividends become tangible in people's daily lives. Third, We must integrate agriculture adaptation, climate smart practices, diversified crops, support for local farmers, and strengthen markets, storage, and regional supply chains. We must also advance dedicated food stockholding mechanisms for low-income countries to ensure timely, predictable access to essential supplies during periods of stress. Fourth, global cooperation must be strengthened to support countries facing multidimensional vulnerabilities where climate shocks, economic fragility and conflict converge to create acute food insecurity. A whole of society and whole of world approach is essential to achieving zero hunger, which remains a moral imperative and foundational to the sustainable development goals. Finally, Humanitarian corridors and food supply routes on land and sea must never be obstructed or politicized. Civilian infrastructures vital to food security, including farms, irrigation systems, processing facilities, markets, warehouses, ports, and transport corridors must be protected at all times as part of civilian protections, humanitarian actions, and conflict prevention. Mr. President, Nepal accords utmost priority to food security. Our constitution guarantees the right to food security as a fundamental right. Our national policy frameworks are oriented toward building a sustainable production driven and resilient agricultural systems. We have emphasized food security and food sovereignty, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable agriculture, and the integrations of local knowledge, technology, and innovation. Kenya has made significant progress in reducing undernourishment, child stunting, and food insecurity over the years, demonstrating that sustained political commitment, community engagement, and targeted investment can deliver transformative results. During my presidency of Economic and Social Council, I made agri-food system transformations our priority, recognizing that resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems are indispensable for advancing the SDG and safeguarding human dignity. In conclusion, Mr. President, peace cannot be sustained where hunger persists. Ending hunger would only cost a fraction of the colossal military budgets that are spent year after year. Addressing food insecurity is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic investment in global peace and security. Let us move from only warning to early actions, from promises to delivery, and from relief to resilience. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Nepal for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti. You have the floor, please.

Good afternoon, Mr. President.

I'm going to read a statement prepared and approved by the 14 members of the Caribbean Community.

I'm doing so in my capacity of chairman of the Caribbean Community caucus at the UN for the month of.

August.

The statement will be delivered in French.

Mr. President, CARICOM congratulates Denmark on leading the work of the council during this month of August. and deeply appreciates the information provided by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. CARICOM is alarmed by the current state of global food insecurity and by its harmful consequences for civilian populations, especially those facing situations of conflict. As has been reaffirmed during this debate by almost all of the speakers, There is an undeniable link between conflict and hunger. During periods of conflict, farmlands, fishing zones, and water supply systems associated with them are often destroyed and sometimes deliberately used as tools of warfare. The disruption of supply chains has repercussions for developing countries, even those that are far removed from conflict zones. And this undermines one of the fundamental principles of the 2030 Agenda, eliminating poverty in all of its forms and dimensions. President, CARICOM has not been spared by these repercussions. Our heads of government recently warned that conflicts currently underway which disrupt transit routes, supply chains, and energy markets disproportionately affect small import-dependent states. And this risks hampering the region's food security ambitions. CARICOM reaffirms its firm commitment to resolution 2417 of the UN Security Council, which recognizes the link between food insecurity and the conflict and famine that cause it. We call on all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. President CARICOM urges the Council to intensify its efforts together with the relevant entities to combat conflict-induced food insecurity. In this regard, we would like to make the following recommendations. First of all, violations of international law, especially the provisions of Article 54 of the Geneva Convention, ought to be addressed through appropriate accountability measures. Monitoring and real-time reporting mechanisms for attacks on farmland, crops, livestock, and drinking water facilities in conflict zones must be viewed as priorities. Early warnings should be accompanied by rapid and appropriate action when indicators and assessments point to conflict-induced food insecurity.

Secondly, we have all recently recognized the importance of the humanitarian pillar of the UN at the commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day. In this regard, our words ought to echo beyond the podium to become action that benefits civilians and humanitarian workers in conflict zones. Nothing can justify preventing civilians from receiving food, water, and other goods essential for their survival. The Council, and the UN as a whole, ought to make every necessary effort to ensure that parties to armed conflict facilitate unhindered humanitarian access. Lastly, President, calls for restructuring the global financial architecture are extremely relevant for regions like CARICOM as they seek greater autonomy.

Recognize that our food systems are interconnected, as demonstrated, for example, by the fact that disruptions to the supply of fertilizer from the Middle East have led to increased food prices in our region. The restructuring of the global financial architecture in accordance with the recommendations of the Fourth International Conference on Development Financing must be part of the solution, emphasizing Stepping up official development aid for rural development, climate change adaptation, and the transformation of food systems, as well as on the allocation of resources toward effective multilateral programs that take into account the links between poverty, food security, inequality, and conflict, will allow us to make progress toward greater resilience. In closing, CARICOM is prepared to work together with this Council to promote a more comprehensive approach toward combating conflict-induced food insecurity as part of an approach that puts prevention at the heart of its action. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Haiti for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. President, the United Arab Emirates affirms that food security is an integral part of international peace and security. Ensuring food security does not stop at food production or its delivery to affected areas, but also requires safe corridors, open ports, and stable and resilient supply chains. This Council, through resolution 2417, recognized the close link between conflict and hunger. It condemned the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, as well as the unlawful denial of humanitarian access. It underscored the importance of protecting objects and infrastructure indispensable to the production and distribution of food. Today, are witnessing a danger that extends beyond the boundaries of conflict namely the politization of commercial food and agriculture supply chains and the use of international waterways as instruments of pressure in this context the United Arab Emirates strongly condemns Iran's unlawful practices and its obstruction of freedom of of the freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz as well as the threats and attacks carried out by affiliate groups against vital maritime corridors in the region. Iran must comply fully with resolution 2817 and reopen the Strait of Hormuz completely and unconditionally in a manner that guarantees transit passage and freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. Mr. President, The repercussions of Iranian escalation extend to food and energy security and supply chains around the world. The Strait of Hormuz is not merely an energy corridor, but a global artery for essential commodities, through which nearly 30% of global fertilizer trade passes. Disrupting these flows raises production and transport costs and food prices, particularly for food import dependent countries in Africa, Asia and the global south. It threatens declining harvests this year and the next. In this regard, the United Arab Emirates stresses the following: First, protecting civilians from hunger in conflict requires ensuring safe and unimpeded access to food and humanitarian assistance, as well as compliance with international law and accountability for those responsible for using starvation as a method of warfare. In this context, we call on the Security Council to consider, where appropriate, including the use of starvation and obstruction of food and humanitarian access as designation criteria in relevant sanctions regimes. Second, the international response must address causes of supply disruptions, not merely their consequences. We call on the United Nations to assess the effectiveness of existing and proposed mechanisms and to explore practical options and alternatives where needed to ensure the regular and sustainable delivery of fertilizers and agriculture inputs to the countries most in need, while taking into account the principles of the freedom of navigation and international trade. Finally, global food security. is a shared interest that cannot be politicized or bargained with, and its protection is a collective responsibility. From the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the United Arab Emirates will continue to work for safe corridors and stable supply chains that preserve the security and peace of the region. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the United Arab Emirates for the statement. The representative of the United States have asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Cuba's outrageous accusations are an attempt to deflect responsibility for decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. While the Cuban people face shortages, Regime elites live opulent lifestyles and the government continues to squander resources on high-end tourist resorts and hotels that sit empty. Press reports indicate that the military-owned conglomerate, Gaesa, and its subsidiaries have accumulated more than $18 billion in overseas bank accounts. The United States, meanwhile, remains one of Cuba's principal suppliers of food and medicine, including $100 million of humanitarian aid, roughly half a billion dollars in agriculture exports last year. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.