Food Security: Italy at the UN for “food diplomacy”, crucial “to mitigate food crisis”

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 15 – Food diplomacy is crucial to mitigating the effects of the food crisis. And at the same time, effective political diplomacy is needed to prevent and resolve conflict. “As Chair of the Group of Friends on Food Security, we keep attention high on the #ZeroHunger goal. Famine caused by war in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa require a cross-cutting response”, Ambassador Maurizio Massari said during a Security Council Open Debate under the agenda item “Protection of Civilians in Armed conflict”.

A High-Level event next week with OCHA

The Security Council meeting will pave the way to an event co-organized by Italy with the Missions of the United States, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and in collaboration with OCHA, on September 21, during the High-Level Week: “We hope this event might help in raising awareness about the alarming situation on the ground”, said the Ambassador.

“In the context of a pre-existing, deteriorating situation, the illegal Russian war against Ukraine further jeopardized global food chains, exposing the most vulnerable Countries of the Global South to even more dire consequences, especially in terms of limited access to food and bringing food price inflation at record level”, said Massari: “The dramatic situation in fragile areas such as the Horn of Africa is deeply disturbing, particularly in Somalia”. Praising as a “beacon of hope” the “key” Black Sea Initiative, brokered by the good offices of the UN Secretary-General with the relevant parties, the Italian PR said that the EU “Solidarity Lanes” are efficiently adding to this effort, accelerating exports to the Global South via much needed alternative routes.

As food security has been a longstanding priority for Italy, Massari called on all Member States to increase their support following Italy’s example by increasing political, financial and technical support for the UN, in particular through and in partnership with the UN Rome-based Agencies.  (@OnuItalia)