Statement by Latvia
at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on
Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity
3 August 2023
President,
I would like to thank the United States for organizing this Open Debate and the distinguished briefers for their statements.
Latvia also commends the US for presenting a Joint Communiqué Condemning the Use of Food as Weapon of War. Latvia has also joined the signatories of this document.
Latvia aligns with the statement by the European Union.
The staggering number of people who are food insecure keeps increasing, reaching record levels. The growing number of armed conflicts in different geographic areas is alarming. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program are both warning us of acute food insecurity being likely to deteriorate even further in 18 hunger hotspots around the world. Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan and Nigeria are at the highest concern level.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2417 five years ago, but we are yet to succeeded at breaking the vicious cycle between armed conflict and food insecurity. Five years later one of the Permanent Members of the Council, namely the Russian Federation, is deliberately deepening food insecurity and significantly adding to the suffering of the most vulnerable people across the globe by invading Ukraine and weaponizing food.
Through destroying Ukraine’s agricultural lands, crippling its agricultural economy and blocking its exports, Russia has disrupted grain deliveries worldwide and fueled surge in food prices globally. Given the central role of Ukraine in the global food supply chain, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has been critical to addressing the high food prices caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. However, most regrettably Russia has taken further steps to push more people into poverty, hunger and starvation.
We condemn Russia’s decision to terminate its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative as well as the following barrage of attacks on Ukrainian port facilities and agricultural warehouses that have destroyed tens of thousands of tons of foodstuffs. Russia has gone even as far as announcing that it would consider any cargo ships travelling to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as a military target. Such actions highlight Russia’s willingness and intention to employ food as a weapon of war rather than an essential humanitarian commodity to prevent starvation and hunger around the globe.
The Russian Federation must immediately cease its unlawful military activities to ensure the resumption of shipments of food and agricultural commodities from and to Ukraine.
President,
Disruptions in the agriculture-market are easily avoidable, and the international system based on international law, including the UN Charter, must not tolerate deliberate attacks on global agricultural supply chains and global food markets. We need quick and decisive action to ensure the supply of food where it’s needed the most and minimize the effects of conflicts on food security. This includes unhampered humanitarian access to effectively address growing humanitarian needs and the threat of famine in armed conflicts. It’s crucial that the international community mobilizes under the UN leadership to respond to the food, energy and financial crisis, exacerbated by Russia’s war. We commend the efforts of the Secretary General and U.N. agencies that are at the forefront of fighting food insecurity and ensuring the continuous flow of foodstuffs.
In the meantime, there is a great need for continuous efforts towards building up resilient, sustainable agriculture and food systems, as well as reliable supply chains. This is ever more critical in a post pandemic world that needs to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change that poses new risks and can further reinforce the vicious cycle of conflict and food insecurity. Latvia will continue to support multilateral efforts that address these challenges, as well as share our know-how with developing countries, including smart solutions for sustainable agriculture and water management.
Thank you!