The link between conflict and hunger could not be clearer, with armed conflict and violence playing a central role in denying civilians their most basic needs in countries across the globe. This has been confirmed by the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, who released a report in March 2023 confirming that conflict and violence are the primary causes of hunger, malnutrition, and famine.
Conflicts around the world are only exacerbating the existing world food crisis, evidenced in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, even before the war in Ukraine, millions of people around the world were suffering from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition. I was delighted that, under our G7 Presidency, the UK secured the first ever famine prevention compact. Germany has made further progress with the creation of the Global Alliance for Food Security, a collective G7 commitment to provide $4.5 billion to mitigate the global food security crisis.
I recognise that there is still more to be done. Speaking at the UN Security Council, UK representatives made it clear that we can make better use of the tools we already have at our disposal, including the rules established in UN Resolutions 2417, 2286 and 2573 which are designed to give timely, evidence-based warnings when parties to conflict are blocking access, destroying indispensable civilian objects, or using starvation in warfare.
In light of this, I welcome the UK Government's plans to support conflict prevention and recovery in the 2023 International Development White Paper, and to transform global food systems. Using cutting-edge technology, including AI and data management, the UK will help with international efforts to predict conflict and to find inclusive and sustainable resolutions.
Furthermore, the UK works with other UN Security Council members to improve reporting on conflict-induced food insecurity and increase accountability for the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Additionally, the UK Government supports the development of a legal handbook on Conflict, Hunger and International Humanitarian Law. In November 2023, the UK also hosted a Global Food Security Summit.
In addition to those experiencing famine, the UK recognises that a quarter of a billion people are experiencing the most acute levels of hunger caused largely by conflict. In these contexts, as well as other types of crises, the UK works closely with allies and partners to deliver life-saving assistance to people, and tackle hunger and starvation. The UK co-hosted a UN pledging conference in May 2023 for the Horn of Africa to address the impacts of drought, conflict, food insecurity and climate change, where the UK pledged £143 million. This bolsters the £3 billion worth of humanitarian assistance the UK will send to the world’s most vulnerable countries, including Yemen and Afghanistan, over the next three years.
