UNSC Open Debate – US Presidency Event

Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity

(3 August 2023; 1000 hrs)

Statement by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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Mr. President,

Let me begin by expressing my delegation's appreciation to the United States on its Presidency of the UNSC and bringing to focus the crucial issue of conflict-induced food insecurity.

2. The global food insecurity situation is daunting, with an increasing number of people facing acute food shortages over the past four years. According to UN estimates, 362 million people in 62 countries require humanitarian aid, a record high. In a world ridden with ongoing armed conflicts, food, fertilizer, and energy crises pose significant challenges, especially for countries in the Global South. The solutions lie in collective global action, as no single country can handle these challenges alone.

3. I would like to submit the following suggestions for the consideration of this Council:

(i) First and foremost, we must work together to find common solutions through dialogue and diplomacy. Choosing peace, cooperation, and multilateralism is essential for building our collective future. Strengthening the international architecture and governance systems to protect the Global Order, Global Laws, and Global Values is a shared responsibility.

(ii) Addressing the growing food grain shortages requires us to go beyond current constraints. India is committed to playing its part in addressing contemporary global challenges, as reflected in our membership in the Champions Group of the Global Crisis Response Group.

(iii) India supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative and hopes for an early resolution to the present impasse. Recent developments in this matter have not helped in securing the larger cause of peace and stability.

(iv) It is necessary for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains. We have already seen to our great cost how these principles were disregarded in the case of the Covid-19 vaccines. Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination.

(v) Food assistance alone surely cannot be a long-term sustainable solution to food insecurity. Peace building and development is paramount and must include livelihood support, social protection programmes, and community-based approaches including investment in agriculture infrastructure and capacity-building in rural development, especially in conflict areas. This calls for a multi-stakeholder approach.

(vi) Armed conflicts, terrorism, extreme weather events, crop pests, food price volatility, exclusion, and economic shocks can devastate any fragile economy, leading to food insecurity and an increased threat of famine. Therefore, providing capacity-building support to countries facing these challenges in designing, implementing, and monitoring food-related policies and programs is of utmost importance.

4. India has always been proactive in assisting our partners in times of distress. Even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, India provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries, including in our neighborhood and Africa, to strengthen food security. In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, India commenced the donation of 50,000 Metric tonnes of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. Similarly, India has continued its humanitarian support for Myanmar, including a grant of 10,000 tons of rice and wheat. We have also assisted Sri Lanka including with food assistance, during its difficult times. All these were in keeping with our foreign policy priority of “Neighbourhood First” and our firm belief in the abiding ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family.

5. Leveraging our Presidency of the G20, India has advocated for greater efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, including SDG 2 calling for zero hunger. The Indian Presidency is committed to in our Prime Minister’s words, “depoliticizing the global supply of food, fertilizers and medical products, so that geopolitical tensions do not lead to humanitarian crisis”.

Thank you!