UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE: THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: CONFLICT RELATED FOOD SECURITY – FRAMING THE GLOBAL DIALOGUE – ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AS A DRIVER OF CONFLICT AND ENSURING FOOD SECURITY
Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
18 November 2025
Thank you, President.
We thank Sierra Leone for convening this debate.
Australia is deeply concerned at the high levels of food insecurity globally.
Seventy per cent of the 319 million people facing acute hunger globally are in fragile or conflict-affected countries.
The link between conflict and food insecurity is clear. Conflict disrupts food production, forces people from their homes and sources of income, and hinders humanitarian access to those most in need. At the same time, food insecurity can serve as an early warning, or even a root cause, of escalating tensions.
Today I make four points:
First, strict adherence to international humanitarian law is the foundation for alleviating human suffering in wars. Australia is alarmed by restrictions on humanitarian access and reports of starvation and famine in conflict zones.
The use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited by international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime, as has been underlined by UNSC Resolution 2417 (2018).
We call on all states to uphold their commitments to protect and support food supply chains in conflict zones, and to desist from using hunger as a weapon of war.
Second, humanitarian personnel are facing increasingly difficult and unsafe operating environments.
You can’t protect civilians if you don’t protect the aid workers that are providing civilians with the food, water and medicine they need to survive.
That is why in September, Australia and our partners – Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the UK – launched a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. This Declaration, which has been signed by 110 countries, reaffirms the international community’s commitment to delivering real protection for humanitarians risking their lives to save others.
Third, ongoing conflicts are impacting people’s ability to access food, whether they live in a state directly affected by conflict or not.
Australia condemns the Russian Federation’s attacks on agricultural and trade infrastructure in Ukraine, and commercial vessels transiting the Black Sea.
Russia’s actions harm the most vulnerable in Ukraine and in developing countries dependent on Ukrainian agricultural exports.
Australia is deeply concerned by escalating hostilities in Sudan, where over 20 million people are facing acute food insecurity, including in famine-affected areas in North Darfur and El Kordofan.
We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to agree a permanent ceasefire and to uphold their obligations under international law.
Australia also remains gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
With the ceasefire in place, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance is required to respond to the hunger crisis, end the suffering and safeguard innocent life.
We continue to urge all parties to uphold the terms of the ceasefire and meet their commitments to increase humanitarian access.
Fourth, addressing food insecurity is not just a humanitarian issue; it is essential for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
We encourage the Council to use all the tools at its disposal:
- food insecurity may act as a predictor of future instability, and early warning systems that include reporting on food security can help the Council determine where additional monitoring may be appropriate for conflict prevention efforts;
- similarly, where tensions appear to be escalating, the Council should consider monitoring and reporting efforts to identify and address any potential subsequent food insecurity before it eventuates.
We particularly encourage the Peacebuilding Commission to play a greater role in strengthening resilience and supporting sustainable food systems.
An effective path toward international peace and security cannot be complete without a credible and practical plan to ensure food security in conflict-affected countries. Australia wants a Council that takes timely action to prevent and respond to conflict-related food insecurity, and coordinates across the UN system to address its root causes.
Thank you.