UN warns violence in conflict zones fuels global hunger crisis
"The more intense the violence, the worse the food insecurity. Attacks harming civilians and civilian infrastructure leave fields abandoned, disrupt food supply chains, drive up prices, and destroy livelihoods," she told the Council during its session on conflict-related hunger. She stressed the human impact, noting that "hunger is exposing people to greater risks of sexual exploitation and abuse and forced displacement as people struggle simply to feed themselves," and that "women are especially impacted, often going without to prioritize their families."
She underscored that "In armed conflicts, international humanitarian law is clear: Civilians and civilian objects must be protected. The use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited. So is attacking, destroying, removing, or rendering useless objects indispensable to civilian survival."
Addressing Gaza, she said "the UN and our partners are seizing every opening to save lives" since the Oct. 10 ceasefire began. But despite ongoing efforts to deliver supplies, she emphasized that "access is still restricted by limits at border crossings, delays to aid convoys, and bureaucratic impediments that slow the entry of vital supplies—and, in some cases, staff."
On Sudan, she reported that "Conflict has shattered food systems and displaced millions. More than 21 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity—the largest such crisis in the world. Yet many areas remain inaccessible to humanitarians. People trapped between front lines are cut off from assistance and enduring extreme hunger." She added that reducing administrative obstacles, clearing unexploded ordnance and ensuring adequate funding are vital to sustaining operations.
"Without political will, even the best coordination, negotiation, and funding will fall short. Preventing and ending hunger is not simply a logistical or financial challenge; it demands sustained political engagement," she said. Outlining four recommendations, she called on the Council to "first, use your leverage to address hunger in conflict... Second, adopt strong policies and practices to protect civilians. Third, facilitate humanitarian action by simplifying bureaucratic procedures and ensuring humanitarians can engage all parties... Fourth, strengthen accountability."
FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero described the scale of the crisis, stating: "Around the world, nearly 673 million people still go to bed hungry. In Africa, 307 million men, women, and children lack sufficient food; in Asia, the number rises to 323 million; while in Latin America and the Caribbean, 34 million face undernourishment." He noted that "food insecurity is no longer just a humanitarian challenge; it is a matter of global peace and security," pointing out that the IPC system, created in Somalia in 2004, has become "a global standard" for assessing crises in places such as "Gaza, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen."
"Food security is not only a moral imperative. It is the most practical path to peace," he said.
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