Ministry Statements & Speeches:
President,
Conflict remains one of the greatest drivers of global food insecurity.
Through the destruction of farms and fisheries, the displacement of communities, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the disruption of trade and supply chains – armed conflict undermines access to sufficient, safe and affordable food.
Civilians invariably bear the heaviest burden. New Zealand remains deeply concerned by the devastating humanitarian situations in Gaza and Sudan. Access to food, water and essential services has been severely affected, while humanitarian agencies continue to face significant challenges in reaching those in need.
International humanitarian law is clear. Access to food and other goods essential for survival must never be denied, and humanitarian assistance must be able to reach those in need safely, rapidly and without obstruction.
But the impacts of conflict are not confined to those in conflict zones.
Recent events have demonstrated how disruptions to agricultural production, trade routes, energy supplies and global markets can have far-reaching consequences for food security around the world.
Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine demonstrated how conflict can reverberate through global food systems.
Disruptions to grain exports, fertiliser supplies and energy markets contributed to higher food prices and increased food insecurity far beyond Europe.
Disruptions to maritime shipping routes, including through the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, have reinforced the continued vulnerability of global food systems to geopolitical instability.
For Pacific Island countries at the end of some of the world's longest and most vulnerable supply chains, these are not abstract geopolitical concerns.
Food security is increasingly linked to developments far beyond our region.
For countries already facing climate-related pressures, conflict-driven shocks to food and energy markets have direct consequences for food affordability, livelihoods, and economic resilience.
The ramifications of conflicts on the other side of the world remind us that the three pillars of the UN are deeply connected.
President,
The Security Council has already recognised the connection between armed conflict and hunger through Resolution 2417. Eight years after its adoption, our focus must be on translating that framework into earlier and more effective action.
We need to make better use of early warning. The Council should receive timely and systematic information when conflict threatens serious food insecurity, including where effects extend beyond the immediate conflict zone through disruptions to energy and fertiliser supplies, humanitarian operations, or critical land and maritime trade routes.
We should also make greater use of the Secretary-General's good offices and the expertise of the wider UN system.
Finally, where conflict threatens critical food supply routes or obstructs humanitarian access, the Council should support diplomatic efforts to maintain those routes and enable food and agricultural products to reach those who depend upon them.
International law guarantees rights of freedom of navigation and transit passage, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law. Upholding these fundamental rights in peacetime and conflict is critical for maritime trade and protecting global food security.
This Council should address the drivers of conflict, support humanitarian access, and uphold the international rules and institutions that underpin food security for millions.
Through our International Development Cooperation programme, New Zealand supports climate-resilient agriculture and food systems to sustain livelihoods.
New Zealand also funds the World Food Programme to alleviate hunger among the world's most vulnerable populations, including those affected directly by conflict.
These investments help communities withstand the combined impacts of climate change, economic shocks and disruptions to global food and agricultural supply chains.
President,
I will conclude by affirming that not only should hunger never be used as a tool of war, it should not be seen as an inevitable consequence of conflict.
Thank you.