Guyana, in call to action, laments increased global hunger as climate change, conflict worsen
Millions of people, particularly those in developing countries, go hungry every year due to worsening disasters like floods and droughts caused by climate change, and because of conflicts that lead to farming disruptions and land loss.
But Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali does not believe that enough people, mostly world leaders, consider the triple threat of food insecurity, climate change and conflict.
That’s why he is hoping to influence global action.
Guyana, for February, holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. The country is serving a two-year term on the Council which is one of the six principal organs of the UN and it is tasked with maintaining international peace and security.
On Tuesday, Guyana’s signature event for the presidency was held. The country opted for an open ‘debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security.’
Conflicts are ongoing in several places including in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti. The President acknowledged that some may query why Guyana decided on a debate on this topic.
“Many may ask whether this situation is a crisis or not, or whether these topics are even relevant for the security council and are a priority for discussion at this level,” Dr. Ali said at the debate held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
But as he presented figure after figure, the Guyanese leader sought to clarify the correlations that exist.
According to the President, of the millions of people facing food insecurity, 122 million live in countries grappling with conflict.
In Ukraine, for example, Dr. Ali said the damages and losses for agricultural enterprises stand at about US$4 billion. And many of those affected, he contended, are small to medium-sized farmers with no insurance policies. Consequently, Dr. Ali said these farmers and their families are sent to the “poverty line” because of war.
There is another stark figure.
“It will cost US$5 billion to eradicate hunger caused by war,” the Guyanese Head of State said.
That figure excludes the cost of helping people affected or displaced to rebuild or restore land that may have been damaged. Land loss altogether is another concern, just as deforestation caused by wars and other conflicts is.
These burdens, President Ali said, are primarily borne by developing countries.
“Are we going to be bold enough to calculate these damages and assign value to the damages as a result of conflict and war?
“Are we going to be bold enough to even address the level of criminality that exists in creating such damage?
“That is why we believe in Guyana that this is a matter for the Security Council because these are issues addressed by the Security Council but the components that constitute food and climate are sometimes missing from the overall analysis on the impact of war and conflict,” President Ali said.
Guyana’s efforts to bring attention to the triple threat and to help galvanise much-needed global action, were backed by many including UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
“Climate chaos and food crises are serious and mounting threats to global peace and security. It is only right that they are addressed by this Council,” Mr. Guterres said.
