Vietnam calls for strengthened efforts to address conflict-induced hunger

The UN Security Council convenes an Arria-formula meeting on conflict and hunger on April 21. (Photo: VNA)

New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the UN, called on the international community tostrengthen efforts to address conflict-induced hunger during a UN SecurityCouncil meeting on April 21.

The Arria-formula meeting on conflict and hunger was attendedby Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist of the Food and AgricultureOrganisation (FAO); Margot Van Der Velden, Director of Emergencies at the WorldFood Programme (WFP); and Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right toFood.

In his remarks, Giang said the world’s food system has beenincreasingly challenged by conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change andnatural disasters. These have seriously threatened the global food security,especially with regard to countries and conflicts in Africa, Asia orEurope, he said.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, delivers remarks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

He welcomed recent efforts by the UN, FAO, WFP andhumanitarian partners to provide aid to people in many areas; and encouragedthe UN and partners to forge solutions to surging prices of many necessary commodities.He also suggested increasing the exchange of information and updates about areas wherefood insecurity emerges or evolves complexly.

The Vietnamese diplomat emphasized that all parties to a conflictmust adhere to international humanitarian law and do not use starvation asa method of warfare as stated in Resolutions 2417 and 2573.

He also urged deepening cooperation between the UN andregional organisations in tackling the root causes of conflicts, building peaceand preventing conflicts, thus reducing the risk of a conflict-induced hunger.

ASEAN has formed specific partnership in sustaining foodsecurity over recent years, he noted, adding the Vietnam views food security asthe root of security, stability and development and will continue contributingto the world’s concerted efforts in addressing food security challenges./.

VNA