Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Joshua Opherk
Famine in Conflict Zones
Another pressing issue in today’s society is the growing emergency of famine, a spreading phenomenon across the global south. As families go extensive periods of time without seeing a proper amount of sustenance or food at all, the situation becomes ever more dire, especially in the context of unrest in eastern Europe. As a European nation, it is the objective of Switzerland to aid in a peaceful resolution to the blockade of grain exports from Ukraine as soon as possible.
As one observes the growing crisis of spreading famine across the underdeveloped world, one commonality is seen: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine, one of the world’s largest wheat producers, has had its economy and agricultural infrastructure turned upside down by the war, and its grain exports, which are crucial for supplying many nations with necessary food stuffs have been catastrophically disrupted. Two countries that have been hit hardest by this are Yemen and Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip. As Houthi rebels block off access to major Yemeni ports and Israel and Egypt block off large amounts of access to Gaza, both regions face a detrimental crisis that threatens the survival of both regions.
As a European country itself, Switzerland takes profound interest in the crisis in Ukraine and hopes to channel its history of peace and tranquility to aid in an international effort to free Ukrainian ports to freely export their grain to the rest of the world. This would not only alleviate the pressing issue of many global famines but would also benefit the global economy as a whole, as this change would lower the international price of grain massively. Hopefully, through this debate, Switzerland can lead by example towards a path of peace, cooperation, and ingenuity.
