Welcoming the international community's determination to address global food insecurity: UK statement at the UN
Tom Woodroffe, UK Ambassador to the ECOSOC, gave some remarks following the adoption of a UN General Assembly Resolution on the state of global food insecurity.
Good Morning, Mr President, Excellencies. I would like to start by congratulating Lebanon, and in particular her Excellency the Permanent Representative of Lebanon, for her leadership on this Resolution and on the critical issue of food security.
The UK welcomes the adoption of this resolution by consensus as a strong sign of the international community’s determination to address the urgency of the crisis facing the world.
At the start of the year, the UN’s Global Humanitarian Overview warned of unprecedented levels of global food insecurity, driven by a perfect storm of COVID-19, the climate crisis and conflict.
This has been further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which, as the Secretary-General has said, threatens to tip tens of millions of people over the edge into food insecurity, followed by malnutrition, mass hunger and famine. The impacts of the crisis could last for years.
During last week’s meetings the UK was clear that it stands in solidarity with those who are now suffering. We will also play our part in addressing this crisis.
We will support the most vulnerable countries with over $3.5 billion of humanitarian aid over the next three years.
We will press the World Bank to deliver swiftly on its plans to strengthen fragile economies by distributing $170 billion over the next 15 months.
We will keep food and agricultural markets open, predictable and transparent.
And British International Investment – the UK’s development finance institution – will scale up high-quality and sustainable investments, including in the food and agricultural sector.
This global crisis requires a collective, global response. Today’s resolution is one important element of that.
But of course the most urgent response lies with just one country. Russia can dress it up with as many falsehoods and excuses as they like but really we all know the truth. Russia can end the global crisis by ending its conflict in Ukraine.
Thank you.