Security Council Open Debate
Maintenance of International Peace and Security – Conflict and Food Security
(Thursday May 19, 2022, 11:00 a.m., Security Council Chamber)
Statement by Italy
Mr. President,
While aligning itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, Italy would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity.
We appreciate the initiative of the US Presidency to convene this Open Debate at a time of increased food insecurity, aggravated by the direct impact of conflicts and now in particular by Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, with its clear global effects on the food security of so many Countries in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
After decades of promising trends, progress towards SDG 2 on Zero Hunger has reversed and we are now seeing millions of people more affected by food insecurity, hunger and famine. We are far from reaching the “Zero Hunger” goal and we need urgent action to reverse the trend and preserve our 2030 horizon.
Today, against a pre-exsiting, incredibily fragile global context, challenged by the effects of the pandemic, of climate change and extreme weather conditions on food systems, Russia’s war against Ukraine is posing an extraordinary and additional threat to global food security.
The impact of the war on global food supply chains is now directly threating at least 50 millions of people in the most vulnerable Countries, without accounting the wider effects of record high prices of food in the global markets. This situation requires urgent and decisive action on multiple fronts.
First, we need to ensure that food currently blocked in Ukraine can flow and can reach its destinations, especially in Africa, the Mediterranean and Central Asia. The blockade of the ports, such as the port of Odessa is a matter of very serious concern and we need to find urgently cooperative solutions to ensure safe passage of food to the world. We condemn the attacks on key infrastructures, looting of food destined abroad and attacks on agricultural and any civilian facilities.
Italy calls for and supports the creation of “Food Corridors”, to be agreed among parties with the United Nations’ support and coordination, including in the context of the UN Global Crisis Response Group, in order to allow maritime and land routes to work and deliver in the interest of millions of people.
In the same vein, we support the initiative of the European Commission to establish “Solidarity Lanes” in order to facilitate the shipping of Ukrainian goods to the rest of the world by using alternative routes through EU Member States.
To starve more millions of people in the world, to risk further socio-economic disruption or destabilization of fragile Countries and region is in no ones’ interest.
Mr. President,
Food security remains a fundamental priority for Italy and a key objective of our foreign policy and international cooperation action.
Yesterday, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio announced an additional financial contribution to FAO and its “Food Coalition” to support Ukraine’s food production capabilities. We also signed the “Road Map for Global Food Security-Call to Action” in which we reaffirmed the commitment to acting with urgency, at scale, and in concert to respond to the urgent food security needs.
We are actively contributing to the G7 initiative for a “Global Alliance for Food Security”, building also on pledges made at last year’s UN Food Systems Summit, and focusing on supporting the most vulnerable countries, including in particular in Africa and the Middle East. In this context, as announced yesterday, Italy is going to convene next June 8, a “Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue on the Food Crisis”, to engage all stakeholders and address the key vulnerabilities within the region.
We also need to work for long-term, sustainable solutions and solve root causes of hunger and food insecurity. We need to forge effective partnerships with all stakeholders to address the short, medium and long-term effects of food insecurity.
We call on all the relevant UN organs and entities to increase action on food insecurity, in particular along the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, and in close synergy with the leading action of the Rome-based Agencies. We will continue to support the UN System and its multilateral action at this complex and challenging juncture. We stand ready to intensify our collective work, also in our capacity as Chair of the Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition, here in New York.
I thank you.
