Famine in Conflict Zones

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Disha Sriram

Disha Sriram
Greece
Famine in Conflict Zones
Food and Agricultural Organization
Forest Hills Central High School

In the current day, the issue of famine in conflict zones has become increasingly more apparent in recent years as war presses on across the globe. Greece, while not directly involved in any wars or diplomatic struggles, understands that the refugees that enter Greece are becoming more alarming as the famine issue increases around the world. With the onset of an economic crisis that occurred in 2008, food insecurity increased to about 1.4 million people with food insecurity in Greece. Currently, Greece is working to better help the environment to help with the steady growth of food to provide for all of its citizens. Greece aims to end greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
Greece proposes this resolution to stop this problem by aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding solar and wind power. With the use of solar and wind energy, the world as a whole will have much better chances of growing food to take care of the refugees who come into foreign territories.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Ghana
Delegate Name: Liam Watson

Famine in conflict areas is a critical issue that needs urgent attention from the international community, as it escalates the already disastrous crisis in war and violence-affected areas. Conflicts disrupt food production, displace communities, and limit access to essential resources. All these factors together lead to food insecurity, malnutrition, and economic instability among the affected populations. The World Food Programme has reported that conflict is the leading driving force of hunger, with many countries additionally facing violence that has caused food insecurity, such as Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan. Ghana, a country that has faced its own challenges around food security due to changes in climate and economic pressure, recognizes that famine deeply impacts communities through human suffering and stifling development.

While Ghana is not directly affected by armed conflicts, the issue of famine and food insecurity remains at a high level, as parts of the country may be exposed to climate change as well as regional instability. Ghana has a policy of providing support to peacemaking missions and international efforts toward eradicating food insecurity amidst conflicts. The Republic of Ghana has endorsed monumental resolutions such as the UN Security Council Resolution 2417, passed in 2018, which condemns the use of hunger and starvation as a method of warfare and states that it is a violation of international law. Additionally, Ghana is a member of international organizations that address food insecurity, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These organizations help Ghana and other countries work together to diminish the effects of famine, especially in areas of conflict. Ghana advocates for an approach of immediate humanitarian relief and long-term agricultural recovery. Ghana calls upon the international community to arrange timely and coordinated food aid to reach the populations affected by conflict, particularly those that are least accessible.

Ghana wants to underline that there is a need to concentrate on long-term food security in post-conflict regions by reinforcing the agricultural infrastructure. Resilience against conflict could be built up in the availability of food at the local level through access to seeds, tools, and knowledge. Ghana also underlines the need for increased coordination between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts on the root causes of food insecurity. In conflict areas, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the broader international community need to take bolder steps to protect vulnerable populations and build stronger, more resilient food systems.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Abby Huffman

Food and Agriculture Organization
Famine in Conflict Zones
South Africa
Abby Huffman
Forest Hills Eastern

In a world plagued with conflict, famine runs rampant. While this committee may be incapable of rectifying decades-long geopolitical struggles, it is paramount that it addresses the widespread food insecurity in combat filled regions. According to the World Food Programme, 65% of the world’s hungriest people live in conflict-affected areas. Although South Africa itself is not experiencing outstanding food insecurity, the broader African continent is heavily impacted. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately half of Africa is in phase 2 or higher, indicating widespread food insecurity. Currently, areas of South Sudan and the Gaza Strip face the strongest levels of famine, both determined to be in Phase 5 by the IPC. South Africa has been steadfast in its support of South Sudan and the Palestinian Authority, and resolving famine there is of the utmost priority.

As mentioned before, South Africa has contributed consequentially to ending famine in Gaza. In June of 2024, the South African government pledged more than $2.7 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. This money was channeled through the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), a UN Program established as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations General Assembly in 1950. Staff of the UNRWA have played a significant role in fighting the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, providing food aid to more than 1.9 million Gazans since the war erupted in October 2023. Specialized, regional programs such as the UNRWA are extremely helpful in combating famine in conflict zones, and South Africa suggests the development of these regional programs, particularly in conflict zones in Phases 4 or 5 of acute food insecurity. Another cause of famine in conflict zones is the suppression of aid by warring powers. South Africa has taken legal action to fight against states who have prevented aid from being distributed in conflict zones. In December 2023, South Africa sued Israel at the ICJ, and has since asked the ICJ to order additional emergency measures against Israel. In their application, South Africa warned that Palestinians in Gaza were facing starvation. FAO must establish stricter guidelines for food distribution and aid in conflict zones and propose more severe penalties for states that fail to comply. These guidelines should coincide with already established international agreements, but also go further to prevent the humanitarian atrocities the world is seeing being committed today.

South Africa supports a resolution that gives both immediate aid to regions where famine is already present and focuses on preventing famine from occuring in the future. With funding from NGOs such as Action Against Hunger, The Hunger project, and countless others, FAO can work to enhance access to clean water, plant crops, implement more effective sanitation methods, distribute food, and other tactics to fight famine. With ongoing and extreme hunger, these conflicts will never be resolved. The Food and Agriculture Organization must do all in its power to end famine and these regions, and prevent it from ever happening again.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Reese Graham

A surplus of worldwide conflict has continued to lead to an increased amount of famine, particularly in war-torn nations such as Palestine, Haiti, and Yemen. The Republic of Indonesia, while mostly disconnected from international conflicts, has firsthand experience with famine and food instability. Undernourishment is felt by nearly 8.5% of the population, particularly children. Therefore, we understand the importance of supporting movements to assist those facing famine due to conflict within their countries, and propose balancing a variety of solutions to ensure adequate resources to those in need.

The issue of famine is one that continues to rise, and this is felt most heavily in areas affected by war. Conflicts are the most prominent cause of hunger, and account for around 65% of the world’s hungriest people. Food can be hard to find and afford in times of war, as land used for growing can be destroyed, as well as infrastructure and roads necessary for transportation. It tends to destabilize the economy rapidly, leading to rising inflation and less imports and exports. All of these factors play a major role when examining global food instability.

Indonesia’s own internal struggles with famine have been improved over the past several years, in part due to a system implemented by the World Food Programme called the Food Security and Vulnerability Atlas. This report is done annually, and highlights key regions struggling to provide enough resources to their population. By using this atlas, the WFP can then target specific areas to assist in increasing food stability. This is an efficient way to identify what needs to be fixed and where, and could be adopted in partnership with other non-governmental organizations to be used throughout worldwide conflict zones.

Depriving a region or nation of adequate food purposefully is considered a war crime, and therefore Indonesia believes that with cooperation between both nations, measures can be taken to ensure the safety of the food supply in nations struggling with conflict. Organizations such as Action Against Hunger and CARE, as well as the Oxfam alliance can be crucial pieces of this; one group of people alone cannot combat disaster everywhere. Funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development could also be utilized where necessary, in order to ensure enough resources for such organizations. With collaboration and worldwide cooperation, there is the possibility to change lives for more people than if the organizations were to continue separate work.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Viet Nam
Delegate Name: Isabella Feenstra

Conflict zones impose severe displacements and inaccessibilities to stable food sources for the populations of affected countries. Since 2020, the world has witnessed a 40% uptick in rising conflicts that contribute to the number of people facing famine, malnutrition, and displacement, such as the situations in Gaza, Ukraine, and Syria. Conflicts devastate a country’s infrastructure, agricultural stability, supply chains, currency values, and import accesses. These disruptions unequivocally affect youth populations, endangering their growth and development with malnutrition. The FAO’s assistance is vital in mitigating such threats of starvation, nutritional deprivation, and displacement, as 309 million people face the harrowing consequences of famine.

VietNam deeply sympathizes with populations experiencing famine in war-torn areas, as we faced similar challenges during French/Japanese colonization in the 1940s and the Vietnam War. Our citizens endured the Great Famine of 1945 because of the Imperial Japanese confiscation of several tons of rice and crops under the “Rice Accords” pact with the Vichy Regime of France, leading to the death of one million people from starvation and disease in Northern VietNam. The majority of the appropriated agricultural goods went to waste as insects and rot set in the soldiers’ supplies while a plethora of Vietnamese slowly wasted away. VietNam currently strives to mitigate hunger through a Zero Hunger Initiative to eliminate household hunger, craft sustainable food systems, and decrease food waste. In light of VietNam’s history of famine, we uphold the necessity for intentional distributions of resources to maximize aid efforts to those facing famine in conflict zones. In support of United Nations Resolution 2417, VietNam stresses the importance for warring countries to maintain regulations that inhibit the use of hunger as a weapon of war. Additional relief efforts through partnership with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and The United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to import food sources like ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) directly to insecure populations is crucial to combating famine. Cooperations between conflict-zone governments, neighboring regions, and nonprofit organizations will prove critical in creating effective methods of famine alleviation and instrumental in establishing sound social services, medical outposts, and food store warehouses. Moreover, connections between international NGOs like Oxfam and World Vision and local organizations should occur for quick and methodical relief to the hurting populations. The services they can provide together, such as nutrition, medication, education, and support, are vital to the survival and beneficial impacts on those facing famine.

VietNam endeavors to create in-depth and easily accessible contingencies that account for those trapped within conflict zones facing famines. We look forward to collaborating with other countries on regional relations, agricultural sustainability/security, and medical aid to increase the United Nations and the world’s protection and assistance to those suffering in critical circumstances.

Sources:
https://www.pacificatrocities.org/rice-and-revolution-the-great-famine-of-vietnam-during-world-war-ii-1944-1945.html
https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/fall-update-on-wfps-response-to-the-global-hunger-crisis/
https://www.wfp.org/conflict-and-hunger
https://press.un.org/en/2018/sc13354.doc.htm
https://vietnam.un.org/en/4056-viet-nam-commits-achieve-zerohunger-viet-nam-2025
https://www.unicefusa.org/what-unicef-does/emergency-response

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Mackenzee Stanley-Eldred

Egypt, as a country deeply committed to global food security, calls for an immediate addressing of famine in conflict zones. Famine, specifically in conflict zones, was estimated to have caused between 8,000 and 21,000 deaths per day in 2023. Famine and food-insecurity are issues that closely resonate with Egypt, as Egypt has battled a long history of food scarcity, particularly during periods of regional instability. The Republic of Egypt believes that no long-term solution to famine in conflict zones can be achieved without addressing the improvement of humanitarian access and targeted attacks.

During the 1970s, Egypt faced significant food shortages due to the combined impact of regional conflicts and agricultural challenges. This history has shaped Egypt’s understanding of the devastating effects of famine, not just on human life, but on political stability and economic development. Egypt has actively contributed to alleviating famine in conflict zones through humanitarian aid and regional cooperation. In 2020, Egypt’s Arab League initiative contributed a $50 million aid package to support food security in conflict zones where ongoing violence has aggravated hunger.

International law mandates the protection of humanitarian groups, yet ongoing violations, such as the deliberate targeting of medical facilities and relief workers, continue to obstruct efforts to alleviate suffering. Addressing these challenges requires stronger enforcement of international humanitarian law, greater political pressure on conflicting parties, and enhanced security for aid operations to ensure that lifesaving assistance can be delivered without obstruction or violence.

Egypt emphasizes the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need without interference from ongoing conflicts. In addition, Egypt calls for tougher international sanctions against those who target aid workers, infrastructure, and food supplies.

Sources:
Al-Ahram Online, “Egypt’s Role in Regional Humanitarian Efforts,” 2020.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Humanitarian Access in Conflict Zones,” 2023.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “Ensuring Protection for Aid Workers,” 2022.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Yutika, Mishra

Famine remains an ever-raging issue in our world today. Around 22 countries are affected by famine in our world today. Why is this such a dire situation?? Food is essential to the human body, without it, we cannot function. As a people, we are trying to improve so much, innovation stands strong, but how can we move forward without helping the people who are really being affected by famine??

From 1991 to 2001 Sierra Leone experienced a horrible famine, with around 200 people dead. This civil war had a huge impact on our country. Our food sources became unstable, we lost many lives, populations decreased, and more. Our people are not able to get the amount of food necessary to thrive and flourish. 
We have been doing everything possible in our power to stop this raging issue, but to do so we need help from other members of the UN. Due to our country’s struggles, we call on other countries to help us. Finland is one of the world’s most stable countries to help fund us and stabilize our economy again. We produce most of the food that we eat, but with climate change and disease a large issue for us, we need providers from other countries to aid us. In return, you will have our support for future issues, and because we are a country so rich in minerals, we will give you what we have. 
We really hope that with negotiating with other members of the UN we may be able to come up with a solution that benefits everyone in their time of need. 

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Ella Duffner

The United Kingdom recognizes famine in conflict zones as an incredibly prominent and pressing issue in our world. Conflict and food insecurity go hand in hand, and prolonged conflict can have devastating effects on civilians and greatly decrease food security. Famine is a man-made devastating failure that we must work to address immediately.

One way the UK has been working to alleviate famine in conflict zones is through humanitarian aid packages. The United Kingdom is one of the largest humanitarian aid donors, donating to both individual countries and UN aid organizations, such as CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund). Providing immediate aid to those in conflict zones is vital, and donations such as these can be incredibly helpful in mitigating civilian harm and death. The UK also urges its fellow member states to continue and follow through with aid donations and pledges to both countries experiencing conflict and UN organizations working to provide relief.

The United Kingdom works with and provides funding for NGOs working to end famine in conflict zones. One example of this is Save the Children UK, which works to provide aid and spread awareness of the issues associated with famine, particularly in its effects on children. NGOs such as this can be a vital resource to both people and governments struggling with famine.

The United Kingdom recognizes that starvation being used as a weapon of war is unacceptable, and we must also work to ensure aid is received, rather than disrupted by conflicting parties. Disrupting the reception of aid and weaponizing hunger is a violation of International Humanitarian Law, and must be stopped. It is just as important to protect groups providing humanitarian relief as it is to provide the relief itself.

The United Kingdom has always and will always continue to work for the safety and security of those in conflict zones. With a focus on ending famine, the importance of providing immediate, efficient, and effective aid cannot be understated.

Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/addressing-the-link-between-conflict-and-famine
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/policy/Hunger%20-%20a%20lethal%20weapon%20of%20war%207th%20pp.pdf
https://cerf.un.org/
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/8587/pdf/

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Krishna Mano

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Famine in Conflict Zones
Israel
Krishna Mano
City High Middle School

In the midst of the various conflicts that plague the world, every nation continues to face the issue of food insecurity and, in some cases, famine. In the status quo, Israel encounters unrelenting threats and attacks from at least five adversaries in the Middle Eastern region. When we live in a world of such hostility, Israel knows that it is essential, now more than ever, to refocus our commitments to protect access to nutritious food for everyone. We strongly affirm promoting food security, especially in areas of combat, and urge our fellow members of the FAO to join our standpoint.

Historically, Israel has supported all international law regarding starvation as a method of warfare, whether it be intentional or not. Apart from the guidelines in Customary International Humanitarian Law including Rule 53 (Starvation as a Method of Warfare) and Rule 55 (Access for Humanitarian Relief to Civilians in Need), Israel has also gone a step ahead by outlining specifications for preventing famine from occurring in conflict zones through the Israeli Manual on the Laws of War. The document explains that the prohibition of starvation “clearly implies that the city’s inhabitants must be allowed to leave the city during a siege”. During all Israeli military operations, the government not only informs city residents of an oncoming siege, but also attempts to provide access and entry into neighboring regions that are relatively more safe, inherently prioritizing the lives of civilians.

Ever since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian nationalist terrorist organization Hamas committed atrocious crimes, including the inhumane murder of children and the brutal rape of women, on several Israeli kibbutzim on the border of the Gaza Strip, Israel has continued to maintain national security operations in accordance with international famine laws. After all, in accordance with Rule 55 of Customary International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian aid remains a top priority for our military as we face these turbulent times in which terrorist organizations wreak havoc across the Middle East. Despite the inefficacy of current governmental systems and intergovernmental organizations present in the Gaza Strip, Israel contributes the highest amount of aid to the region. To date, Israel has used over 20,00 trucks to deliver over 375,000 tons of aid including 240,960 tons of food, 27,760 tons of water, and 19,510 tons of medical supplies.

However, due to the vague wording and archaic policies of these aforementioned treaties that Israel has signed, we strongly urge the development of a more updated set of guidelines, one that thoroughly represents and restructures the disorder in today’s society. As a nation that has proven to be a victim of this chaos, we seek to bring our expertise on this topic to our fellow members of the FAO and lead these discussions to ensure humanitarian safety and assistance supersedes all violent activity committed by terrorist groups and nations alike.

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.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Kenna Charbauski

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights conflict as a leading factor contributing to global food insecurity. Recent reports state that conflict causes over 70% of global acute food insecurity. Among these, the effects of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine are particularly felt worldwide, as the conflict is exacerbated by economic sanctions. The Russian Federation seeks true multilateral collaboration within the United Nations(UN) to address this pressing crisis.

The Russian Federation is a firm supporter of the Sustainable Development Goals and prioritizes decreasing global food insecurity. In 2020, Russia updated its Food Security Doctrine to emphasize national commitment to achieving global food security. Current data shows that the production of all food and fertilizer meets global needs, but distribution does not. Russian wheat yield in 2024 is nearly equal to the yield in 2020, however, due to economic sanctions imposed on Russia by G7 nations, wheat exports have decreased. These sanctions fail to consider the global food chain, and directly affect the supply of agricultural products to nations experiencing conflict and insecurity. Nations placing these sanctions are opportunistic and actively amplifying food crises. In response, the Russian Federation left the Black Sea Grain Initiative. In place from 2020 to 2023, the initiative enabled the safe export of agricultural products from Ukraine on the Black Sea. Since the sanctions continue to target Russia’s economy, it cannot support the initiative under the current circumstances. Despite these sanctions, the Russian Federation continues to supply surplus grain directly to Middle Eastern and African nations. At the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit, The Russian Federation reaffirmed its mission to assist nations facing insecurity. Sudan, Libya, and Syria are among nations already receiving support. These actions are primarily facilitated by nongovernmental organizations(NGOs) and through bilateral agreements. 

Recognizing the need for change in international policy, the Russian Federation recommends the implementation of new multilateral agreements accounting for all aspects of the food crisis. This global humanitarian issue, and needs to be handled accordingly. It should be addressed with impartiality and should not be driven by geopolitical interests or national self-interest. This policy includes the lifting of current sanctions to restore the global food supply chain, respecting national sovereignty while allowing more comprehensive support for food-insecure nations. Without sanctions, the Russian Federation could aid significantly more nations. Additionally, the global food market would potentially stabilize. The Russian Federation encourages nations with surplus agricultural products to form bilateral agreements with food-insecure nations. These agreements allow for the direct transfer of aid and successfully alleviate hunger. NGOs can be used to execute such agreements fairly. The Russian Federation remains optimistic about the decrease in conflict-induced hunger, urging the UN to act cooperatively and rationally when dealing with the issue.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Joshua Opherk

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.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Delegate Name: Sadie Ankin

Representing: The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Delegate: Sadie Ankin
School: Francis W. Parker

Previously colonized by Belgium, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained independence on June 30, 1960. Ever since there has been an ongoing conflict. In 2023, after the national election, violence among military and rebel groups transpired. Since then, the DRC has been in a state of civil unrest. The unstable nature of the government has led to over seven million people being internally displaced. Additionally, the DRC is recorded to be amongst the least economically developed countries in the world. These contributors have led the citizens of the DRC to experience immense food insecurity.
The DRC has one of Africa’s largest internal displacement crises. An overwhelming 22 percent of the population is acutely food insecure due to increased armed conflict and the impact of climate hazards, such as drinking water quality. This 22 percent equates to 23.4 million Congolese citizens suffering from food insecurity, making the DRC amongst the countries most affected by food insecurity in the world. The issues in the DRC have spanned decades, only becoming more severe with time. It is recorded that since 1996, conflict in the DRC has led to approximately six million deaths. 120 non-state armed groups are continuing to drive the DRC into a state of disaster. Historically, the Congolese people grew food to maintain their survival, but as a result of the conflict, land owners are being forced to flee, leaving millions displaced, without a reliable source of food. The DRC is naturally rich in resources, but this fails to help with food insecurity,1 in 6 Congolese live in extreme poverty, and 1 in 15 children acutely malnourished. To combat this issue, plans are trying to be implemented through emergency agriculture interventions. For example, with a $80 USD market gardening package, a family can quickly produce a variety of nutritious vegetables, using a combination of natural resources and assistance, which helps them make up to $480 USD on the local market. This not only helps provide a stable source of food, but assists with improving self-sufficiency. Although, it is not enough. Millions of people in the DRC are continuing to go hungry, and simply, the programs that are currently implemented aren’t able to combat the issue entirely.
Experiencing the complex issue of food insecurity, firsthand, the DRC believes it requires a multifaceted long-lasting solution. To move forward into a world where every citizen in every country has access to a stable source of food, it requires a transformation on a global level. In the DRC, the root of the issue lies within the seemingly never ending conflict. 80% of the 163 million Africans facing acute food insecurity are in conflict-affected countries. To solve the issue of food insecurity, it is essential to first work on the issue of ending conflicts.

Representing: The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Delegate: Sadie Ankin
School: Francis W. Parker

Previously colonized by Belgium, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained independence on June 30, 1960. Ever since there has been an ongoing conflict. In 2023, after the national election, violence among military and rebel groups transpired. Since then, the DRC has been in a state of civil unrest. The unstable nature of the government has led to over seven million people being internally displaced. Additionally, the DRC is recorded to be amongst the least economically developed countries in the world. These contributors have led the citizens of the DRC to experience immense food insecurity.
The DRC has one of Africa’s largest internal displacement crises. An overwhelming 22 percent of the population is acutely food insecure due to increased armed conflict and the impact of climate hazards, such as drinking water quality. This 22 percent equates to 23.4 million Congolese citizens suffering from food insecurity, making the DRC amongst the countries most affected by food insecurity in the world. The issues in the DRC have spanned decades, only becoming more severe with time. It is recorded that since 1996, conflict in the DRC has led to approximately six million deaths. 120 non-state armed groups are continuing to drive the DRC into a state of disaster. Historically, the Congolese people grew food to maintain their survival, but as a result of the conflict, land owners are being forced to flee, leaving millions displaced, without a reliable source of food. The DRC is naturally rich in resources, but this fails to help with food insecurity,1 in 6 Congolese live in extreme poverty, and 1 in 15 children acutely malnourished. To combat this issue, plans are trying to be implemented through emergency agriculture interventions. For example, with a $80 USD market gardening package, a family can quickly produce a variety of nutritious vegetables, using a combination of natural resources and assistance, which helps them make up to $480 USD on the local market. This not only helps provide a stable source of food, but assists with improving self-sufficiency. Although, it is not enough. Millions of people in the DRC are continuing to go hungry, and simply, the programs that are currently implemented aren’t able to combat the issue entirely.
Experiencing the complex issue of food insecurity, firsthand, the DRC believes it requires a multifaceted long-lasting solution. To move forward into a world where every citizen in every country has access to a stable source of food, it requires a transformation on a global level. In the DRC, the root of the issue lies within the seemingly never ending conflict. 80% of the 163 million Africans facing acute food insecurity are in conflict-affected countries. To solve the issue of food insecurity, it is essential to first work on the issue of ending conflicts.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: United States of America
Delegate Name: Sloane Truckenbrod

Delegate: Sloane Trukenbrod
Committee: ECOSOC
School: Francis W. Parker School
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Representing: USA

More than 864 million people in the world are currently facing serious food emergencies, many of them living in war zones. Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip present the worst cases of food insecurity due to ongoing violence. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine means the levels of complete lack of food reaching a threshold where deaths occur or there is hunger across populations in the short term. The war in Ukraine worsened their situation because of disrupted grain exports, higher food prices, and reduced emergency aid to other areas. These statistics point to a need for immediate international action.
Conflicts displace communities, destroy crops, and block access to food supplies. The violence in war-torn areas has made many people flee their home land, leaving farms and livelihoods. Economic instability is exacerbating the situation, with inflation and disruption to supply chains forcing up the price of essentials beyond the reach of the poorest people. Global conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine, have ripple effects that negatively impact food security far from conflict areas.
In the United States, efforts toward the eradication of famine in conflict zones fall within the realms of both humanitarian values and strategic interests. Instability and hunger create political unrest, mass migration, and security threats, events that can spill into the global arena and reach The United States. The US is already the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance worldwide, and more concrete steps should be taken by the United States to curb the root causes of food insecurity. In addition to emergency relief, long-term strategies are needed to minimize dependency on long-term support and to avoid another humanitarian crisis. U.S. leadership is now required to urge international partners into shared action in response to this critical situation.
Finding a solution for famine in conflict zones involves establishing aid and support through which food and other forms of aid can be distributed. Partnerships among governments, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), and private organizations should be strengthened to further streamline relief work. Investment in sustainable farm methods and innovative agricultural technologies in areas of conflict will help the people of such communities to rebuild and reduce vulnerabilities in the future. Finally, the U.S. should bring together donors and philanthropic organizations from around the world to increase funding of long-term food security programs. These steps would position the United States as a leader in combating famine and make it a pathfinder toward global stability.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: China
Delegate Name: Wendy Schmit

Food insecurity is a worldwide issue that every nation faces, but only certain regions/countries truly face famine. Countries that are smaller and less developed are the most vulnerable to this because they don’t have the support or funds to enact change that larger countries have. The countries with the highest percent of famine are those in Africa, including Haiti, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, and the DRC. More recently, famine has also affected those in wars such as Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Israel. This is due to displacement, wars, climate change, and food insecurity, which are some of the biggest factors of famine. Many organizations like the UN FAO, World Food Program (WFP), and Action against Hunger have begun projects to help mitigate famine and to mitigate the effects of it. This issue is most pressing because millions of people die each year due to inadequate food nourishment, lack of accessibility to proper food, and climate change. Along with this, it also affects Internally Displaced People (IDP).

As previously mentioned the UN FAO and the WFP have dedicated many years and money to build programs that benefit farmers and underprivileged areas of the world. In 2024, the Famine Review Committee confirmed famine in the Darfur region of Sudan, but Sudan isn’t the only country in the world that is close to or already confirmed famine. The UN FAO has moved to mandate improving the nutrition, agricultural productivity and to contribute to global growth in its recent projects. With actions taken from the results of the Russia and Ukraine war, other neighboring countries have and will continue to become affected. Another thing that the UN has worked on is using soil to improve the efficient usage of fertilizers. From the Ethiopian experience, the UN wants to use soil maps to find the right level of N, P, K fertilizers so that crops yield the most with less use of fertilizers. The UN suggests that this should be adopted by all countries.

While China is not at the forefront of this issue currently, China has faced the world’s biggest famine period recorded; The Great Chinese Famine. To prevent this from happening to China again and other countries, China is willing to offer itself to the aid of the common good. With ideas of greener methods of growing crops and strong technological machinery, China has begun implementing “farmland red lining” which is when China’s arable land is protected for farming. They’ve also worked with other countries, especially those in Africa and South Asia to help aid and promote the decline of famine in the world. Being a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Global Development Initiative, China has promised to advance Food Production Enhancement Action. The question isn’t whether one country can be effective or the safety of one’s country, but that of how nations can collaborate effectively on the security of food worldwide.

Some solutions that have begun to be implemented are turning to soil maps to find the most fruitful crops, using arable land effectively, and creating more sustainable, greener methods of farming. The UN and other fellow countries also want to educate people and farmers on the importance of nourishment, expand access to food in unfortunate areas, and to innovate new ideas that can bridge farmers and big corporations. While these things are being in effect, there are still problems that need attention, such as the continent of Africa, as it has the highest rate of famine in the world. To help with this, the UN and fellow countries need to collaborate with African countries and large, well developed countries to solve more specific problems. Some other ideas are turning to GMOs, using natural resources such as plentiful crops, water, wind, and soil to grow healthier or more sustainable crops, decreasing food waste, and mitigating the effects of climate change, because it ultimately results in the displacement of people. However, some of these ideas are short-term solutions and some are long-term solutions, and some may not be feasible in certain countries. Which is why larger, more developed countries such as the U.S. China, U.K, and France need to send aid, resources, and monetary funds to support smaller countries like those who are more affected by famine.

Works Cited

Famine | Definition, causes and facts. (n.d.). Www.unrefugees.org.
https://www.unrefugees.org/news/famine-explained-definition-causes-and-facts/
‌IPC Global Platform. (n.d.). Www.ipcinfo.org. https://www.ipcinfo.org/
Setting the scene. (n.d.). https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/e22670ae-
6885-4c6e-b087-7c541927b126/content
‌
Using Soil Maps to Improve Efficiency of Fertilizer Uses Setting the scene. (n.d.).
https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/95f9832f-2ebf-46ce-9208-f9f29b1fa902/content

World Food Program USA. (2023, March 13). Global Food Crisis: 10 Countries Suffering the Most From
Hunger. World Food Program USA. https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/global-food-
crisis-10-countries-suffering-the-most-from-hunger/

‌Zhang, Y., Xu, T., & Xiao, J. (2022, November 7). How has China maintained domestic food security
amid global food crises? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/11/china-domestic-food-stability-amid-global-food-crises/
‌

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Delegate Name: Ella Rose

According to the World Food Programme, conflict is the primary drive for hunger in the world. As many know, Syria is a major conflict zone and has just subsided the 12-year-long civil war. Lengthy conflict has left many people hungry, tens of thousands to be exact. Globally, 65% of the world’s hungriest people live in conflict zones.

Syria believes that extensive aid should be sent to conflict zones, because, as is a known fact, we are not the only nation in conflict. The Syrian Arab Republic believes that this committee should be focusing on how to get money to non-governmental organizations that are trying to help the countries in conflict. The feasibility of solutions should also be a primary point of discussion.

Possible solutions the Syrian Arab Republic would like to present to the committee is trying to hold countries responsible for war crimes and possibly introduce new rules and regulations to war. For example, if you burn down farms or food sources, that would be a crime against humanity. There is something already like this in Article 8 Section 4 in the war crimes documents for the United Nations, but we believe this clause should be expanded beyond damaging properties. The Syrian Arab Republic believes that there should be more of an extent and revise it as “damages to food sources for the population of the city/country would be a crime against the United Nations and end in a war crime trials. Another regulation should be you cannot hide under civilian properties or have a base that would put civilians in danger.

In conclusion, The Syrian Arab Republic would like to propose the idea of making more rules and regulations for war and conflict, in relation to food supply, because conflict is one of the main reasons for famine in countries.

Works Cited:
https://www.wfpusa.org/drivers-of-hunger/conflict
https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/definition

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Andrew Tompkins

Food and agricultural production is a major piece of the Philippines’ economy. Rice and corn are the main crops grown here but they are not generally exported as the Philippines generally lacks the economic level to be a mass exporter. The food we do export is generally fruits and nuts which we exported 2.3 billion USD worth of in 2022. Philippines exports were only half of their imports in 2022 so we’re not in a secure position to provide massive monetary or agricultural support to countries in need such as Afghanistan, Myanmar. or Palestine. The Philippines generally is not usually a provider of aid to other nations due to our lack of being a historically large economy but in 2018 they did provide support in their own unique way to a struggling Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea’s main export is oil and its economy is reliant on it and built around it when oil prices dropped in 2018 Papua New Guinea struggled greatly economically. The Philippines, from one island nation to another, supported them by helping them diversify their economy through teaching them methods of rice production with different strains of rice in tropical climates as well as in land fish farming methods. This instance helped secure food security for Papua New Guinea as well as showed the world that the Philippines is willing to go the extra mile to support countries struggling with food insecurity in any way they can.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we would like to draw support to our fellow member nation who is going through a strenuous civil war, Myanmar. Despite Myanmar’s history of isolationism, we have strong ties to them as we have held embassies in each other’s capitals since 1954. We are deeply concerned for the well-being of the Burmese people as the civil war between the nation’s military-controlled government and counter-coup insurgents has caused mass deaths and struggle among the people. Over five thousand civilians have been killed so far and that’s withholding the rebel groups which are mostly made up of civilian combatants. Other than the death toll 3.3 million Burmese citizens have been displaced from their homes and the majority of the nation is living below the poverty line. These numbers are extremely alarming as Myanmar not only lacks a stable government to provide for its people in wartime, such as a nation like Ukraine or Pakistan but also is hindered in support efforts by the mountainous terrain that surrounds that aided its independence among the mass colonization of its neighbors in the nineteenth century, as it is more difficult for humanitarian groups to reach the country as well refugees to flee to neighboring nations. The humanitarian effort in Myanmar is also critically underfunded as they only receive 8% of the UN funding with a measly 178 million USD of the effort for the war in Ukraine while having around 60% of the civilian casualties.

We would recommend either additional funding for Myanmar and other nations who encounter similar struggles or a more equitable distribution of funds between humanitarian efforts for major conflicts as Myanmar’s funding, in particular, is disproportionate to their struggle and all efforts need to be made to supply their destitute population with enough food to survive this civil war. The United Nations document titled “Equitable Geographic Distribution” from 1997 calls for the equitable placement of funds and attention of the organization and those principles are not being followed in the organization’s treatment of the Ukrainian and Burmese wars. Not only this, the Philippines as well as willing countries in Southeast and South Asia can combine our crop production with the distribution efforts of humanitarians in order to get food to the people of Myanmar with the utmost urgency.

We, the Philippines, will do everything in our power to support our allies in their fight against famine. We ourselves experienced a similar wartime famine during the Second World War as we experienced a terrible famine under Japanese occupation during the Second World War. It is precisely because we share this struggle with the Burmese people that we are able to emphasize so greatly with their situation. The Philippine government will do everything in its power to support the people of Myanmar.

Works Cited:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154436
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/233756?ln=en&v=pdf
https://borgenproject.org/foreign-aid-in-the-philippines/
https://fts.unocha.org/countries/234/summary/2022
https://aboitizinfracapital.com/the-top-10-philippine-industrial-exports/

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Liam Watkins

Food security is of major importance for sustainably furthering continuous development, yet millions of people globally still face hunger and malnutrition. The Republic of Columbia is especially relevant in this conversation, as a country that, although agriculturally rich, has a delicate and endangered ecology. The Republic of Colombia recognizes the potential benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to alleviate hunger while safeguarding biodiversity. However, we are aware and cautious of the potential dangers and believe in implementing strict biosafety measures, as shown by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of which we are a signatory. The Republic of Colombia is dedicated to furthering productive solutions to solve food security and promote sustainable development.

Colombia, known for its coffee, bananas, and other exports, faces significant food security challenges, particularly in rural areas plagued by poverty, conflict, and climate change. We have cautiously permitted GMOs for specific crops like corn and cotton, mainly to boost productivity and reduce pesticide use. However, Colombia’s people have pushed against the use of GMOs due to concerns over safety and the loss of traditional farming practices. The impacts of GMOs on food security are very relevant to Colombia’s priorities, including rural development and biodiversity conservation to promote a more resilient ecology. While GMOs offer enhanced crop resilience against pests and climate stress, their ecological risks, such as gene flow to wild relatives, must be carefully managed. Colombia views GMOs not as a cure-all, but as a potential tool in a broader strategy for sustainable agricultural development.

The Republic of Colombia believes in essentially three central questions that this committee must focus on answering. How can international institutions like the FAO support nations in addressing public skepticism of GMOs while promoting informed decision-making? What policies can encourage the development of GMOs tailored to specific regional climates and ecosystems, especially in countries like Colombia with diverse geographies? And lastly, how can the FAO ensure that the adoption of GMOs respects the cultural and traditional agricultural practices of our indigenous communities?

The solutions that the Republic of Colombia would like to see further discussed in implementing would be further international collaboration on developing climate-resilient GMOs. The Republic of Colombia’s expertise in tropical agriculture is especially relevant to creating crops suited to biodiversity hotspots. The Republic of Columbia also supports the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, of which we are a signatory and advocate for its global implementation. Strengthening these frameworks minimizes environmental risks as we bring in more GMOs. We would also like to see pushes to spread accurate information about GMOs, including their benefits and limitations, for which participation with NGOs is particularly important. Lastly, to ensure inclusivity, Colombia emphasizes the importance of affordable GMO seeds and technical training and education for small farmers, enabling equitable benefits from technological advancements for all states.

The Republic of Colombia’s adherence to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety demonstrates its commitment to safe GMO handling. This protocol is a ‘guiding framework for balancing biotechnology use and biodiversity preservation’. Additionally, Colombia’s National Development Plan document outlines future development goals, in which rural development and food security are major issues, with plans including GMO adoption strategies to improve agricultural productivity. The Republic of Colombia signed The FAO’s Guidelines on Biotechnology guidelines which advocate for ‘science-based policies that address ethical, social, and economic dimensions of GMO use’. Our adherence to these documents illustrates our motivation and dedication to facing food insecurity.
Through this committee, The Republic of Colombia’s goal is to contribute to technological advancements in agriculture to end hunger while respecting the planet’s ecological and cultural diversity. Through collaboration, education, and, especially so, stringent regulation, The Republic of Colombia believes the FAO can lead the way in ensuring GMOs serve as a tool for global food security, not at the expense of public trust or environmental integrity.

Bibliography
Unit, Biosafety. “The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.” The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH), 25 Oct. 2024, https://bch.cbd.int/protocol. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
UNEP – UN Environment Programme, https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/biosafety/about-biosafety. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Environment, UN. “Biosafety and the Environment: An Introduction to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.” UNEP – UN Environment Programme, https://www.unep.org/resources/report/biosafety-and-environment-introduction-cartagena-protocol-biosafety. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
WHO, FAO; IFAD; UNICEF; WFP; The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024. https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/d8f47624-8b43-412a-bbc2-18d2d830ad5b. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Home.” FAOHome, https://www.fao.org/home/en. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Departamento Nacional de Planeación. https://www.dnp.gov.co/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Página Principal Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural. https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/paginas/default.aspx. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario.” ICA, https://www.ica.gov.co/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications.” ISAAA.Org, https://www.isaaa.org/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Greenpeace.” Greenpeace, https://www.greenpeace.org/global/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
SciELO Colombia- Scientific Electronic Library Online. http://www.scielo.org.co/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
OCHA. https://www.unocha.org/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
UN World Food Programme (WFP). https://www.wfp.org/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Cancillería.” Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia, https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“ICRC.” International Committee of the Red Cross, https://www.icrc.org/en. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Human Rights Watch Defends the Rights of People in 100 Countries Worldwide, Spotlighting Abuses and Bringing Perpetrators to Justice.” Defending Human Rights Worldwide, https://www.hrw.org/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“ReliefWeb – Informing Humanitarians Worldwide.” ReliefWeb, https://reliefweb.int/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Action Against Hunger.” Action Against Hunger, 7 Sept. 2022, https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
“Transnational Institute.” Transnational Institute, https://www.tni.org/en. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: Madilyn Feld

Although Albania is not considered a conflict zone, we still have great sympathy for nations that are. We also understand that the UN should always be stepping in to help other nations who are suffering. A quarter of humanity (about 2 billion people) are currently living in a conflict zone and over 117 million citizens were displaced by the end of last year (UNHCR). This number has been growing annually for 12 years and there is no sign of it stopping. Albania has not technically been considered a conflict zone since the 1990s and does not suffer from either acute or chronic food security. One of the biggest conflict zones today is Ukraine. Nearly 4 million citizens have been displaced by the conflicts in Russia (UNHCR). Even though the media often focuses on this conflict, there are so many more out in the world that are often neglected by the UN. Albania stands with those countries and wants the UN to support them as well. One of the main causes of food insecurity in Albania is the Ukraine-Russia war. Ukraine is a main provider of wheat, seed, and corn. They also provide a large portion of Albania’s fats, oils, grains, and dairy. But because of this conflict, many UN nations have sent aid to Ukraine. In doing so, many other nations dealing with violent conflicts are neglected.

What countries should be our priority and how do we determine which nations need the most relief? Is there a system we could create to provide support for many more countries? How are famine and conflicts directly linked? We need to specifically focus on providing aid to these nations as part of conflict resolution. The FAO’s goal is to achieve worldwide food security and “to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.” We should keep this in mind when discussing potential solutions.

Albania would look favorably upon a resolution including a plan to help citizens in conflict zones and to ensure their food security is not affected by whatever conflict they are facing. Albania would be in favors of a resolution protecting the people’s right to their own health and safety. In recent years, Albania has proposed plans similar to these that would provide fast relief for nations considered conflict zones. The most recently proposed plan would include funding from foundations and corporations, along with a digital platform to add onto the UN humanitarian aid system. Although this was previously proposed, other methods could be included in a potential resolution.

As was mentioned earlier, Albania proposed a “Humanitarian Alliance” in 2023 that would provide speedy relief to nations in conflict zones. Albania claims that this plan will “enlarge the radius of contributions.”(Banjo) At the same conference this plan was proposed, it was stated that humanitarian assistance was greatly lacking in some of the places that needed it most. Albania strongly agrees with this statement and the fact that many countries are being denied the help they desperately need. The UN also has “Sustainable Development Goals” which is centered around food for all. The UN launched the “Zero Hunger Challenge” in 2012 in order to ensure all world citizens the right to adequate food (UN). As well as these, the UN works closely with organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Bank Group. Albania supports both of these initiatives and hopes to continue working with the UN to mitigate these issues.

In conclusion, Albania strongly believes that many nations aren’t getting the help they need. It is the goal of the FAO to eliminate hunger worldwide and by providing aid for nations in crisis, we would be able to get a bit closer to this goal. A favorable solution would include a guarantee to all countries that they have access to UN support and aid. Albania hopes to continue advocating for these countries by creating an effective resolution in committee.

Works Cited
Banjo, Damilola. “Albania’s Proposing a ‘Humanitarian Alliance’ to Get UN Aid Faster to Crisis Zones.” Pass Blue. 4 September, 2023
“‘War’s Greatest Cost Is Its Human Toll’, Secretary-General Reminds Peacebuilding Commission, Warning of ‘Perilous Impunity’ Taking Hold”. United Nations Press. 30 March, 2022

“Global Trends”. UNHCR. June 2024.

“Trade and Economic Cooperation”. Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of Albania. 31 March, 2021

“Ukraine Agricultural Production and Trade”. Foreign Agricultural Service. April 2022

“Fighting Famine”. United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator. 2023

“Peace, Dignity and Equality on a Healthy Planet ‘Food’”. United Nations.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: Caitlyn Leahy

Country: Republic of Senegal
Committee: Food and Agriculture Organization
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Delegate: Caitlyn Leahy
School: Williamston High School

One of the most urgent concerns in the United Nations is famine and malnutrition in war-torn countries that may have limited access to resources due to their conflicts. Areas like East Africa, the Gaza Strip, Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Myanmar have little food and nutrition for millions of impoverished civilians. It is estimated that 1.3 million people currently face famine. These numbers could continue to rise if the Food and Agriculture Organization does not intervene to give food to people cut off from the rest of the world by war. Malnourished children are also a deadly result of war in these countries, and giving mothers and infants adequate healthcare and resources is another important aspect to stopping famine. War-torn areas have short supplies of food due to conflicts that can destroy agriculture and governments stop supplies from reaching people in need.
Senegal is committed to aiding nations in conflict zones by participating in organizations like the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), that have passed legislation to improve food security for war zones in East Africa. The Republic of Senegal has only directly aided Sudan and its neighboring developing countries, as it is mostly interested in regional conflicts. Senegal hosts many summits and coordination efforts that involve NGOs and governments to bring solutions to starvation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Senegal is also active in legislation from the Food and Agriculture Organization that rebuilds farms in countries that had been previously destroyed by conflict.
Senegal proposes to use NGOs to deliver food to remote communities using drones, boats, or other means to reach areas with little peace as well as storage for this food near conflict-prone cities to efficiently deliver aid. Senegal also stresses the importance of adaptable agricultural practices for not only war-torn areas but also locations prone to the effects of climate change. Senegal would do this by training farmers different methods of resilient farming and different ways to improve soil. Senegal also proposes to be a main hub of food-storing and production for East African aid, because of its proximity to the conflicts. Senegal can offer financial aid to organizations and initiatives passed by the committee, although it is mainly interested in other ways to support these starving areas. Senegal is interested in working with neighboring countries that also believe that solving famine in Sudan and East Africa as their largest priority, as well as large trading partners like the US and China that can finance many of these initiatives.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Elizabeth Zaremski

Famine, or the shortage of food, has created many issues for developing and developed countries worldwide. This is especially apparent in areas such as Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza, where conflict is the main cause of famine. Over 330 million people are experiencing famine, and eight in 10 of the world’s worst food crises are driven by war and persecution. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), 50 countries rank as having extreme, high, or turbulent levels of conflict. By 2030, an estimated 59% of the people experiencing extreme poverty globally will be in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence, according to the World Bank. Conflict in these zones can cause food shortages and the severe disruption of economic activities, threatening the means of survival of entire populations. Additionally, wars commonly trigger the displacement of huge numbers of people, cutting them off from their food supplies and livelihoods.
For years, Ireland has been putting in extreme effort in the fight against global hunger. Irish Aid dedicates 20% of its budget to combating hunger and malnutrition. Ireland this year spent at least €284 million on food and nutrition programs around the world. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister Micheal Martin has said that“Our history of famine has ensured that ending hunger is one of the core priorities at the heart of our international engagement”. Ireland has and continues to work with the U.S. and others to combat this pressing issue. Domestically, Ireland has also implemented a policy on sustainable development of global targets. This policy aims to end hunger, end poverty, ensure healthy lives, promote well-being for all at all ages, make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and a lot more. All of this went into effect in October of 2022.
Ireland plans to work more with their allies, and especially the U.S. to fight this pressing issue and stop it at its core. Ireland wants to increase the amount they use to support if needed. They also plan to continue the donations and aid to conflict zones, when it comes to famine.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Peru
Delegate Name: Cordelia Bollis

Country: Peru
Committee: FAO
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Delegate: Cordelia Bollis
School: Williamston High School

Prior to 2024, there has always been a recurring issue with famine, as famine continues to grow and the crops continue to decrease. Currently, according to the IPC scale, which ranks the severity of famine in a country, it says that in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen, and in the Gaza Strip that they are the most food insecure regions. Then inflation has also been a part of the increase in famine, for example when there was a surplus of grain in Ukraine as they haven’t been able to export, making families in impoverished areas.
Peru has actively participated in trying to reduce famine. For starters, in 2005 Peru established a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, called JUNTOS. JUNTOS’s main goal is to alleviate poverty and then they have other goals of making healthcare, nutrition, and education more accessible. With the government funds they receive, they donate them to families who live on low incomes, especially those in extreme poverty and those with pregnant women and young children, so they can purchase nutritious food that could aid their malnutrition and help promote a better diet. JUNTOS also engages in community involvement by having families, local health, and educational systems together to promote health literacy and access. Furthermore, some JUNTOS have triumphed in significantly reducing malnutrition for children under five. However, JUNTOS isn’t accessible in every region in Peru as some places won’t comply with it. The rapid growth of famine is blamed on the sudden inflation in Peru that led to poverty and the aftereffects of COVID-19. Currently, Peru is ranked at level 3 on the IPC scale, meaning that many households struggle to afford food without skipping meals, selling valuable belongings, and without the help of another. Fortunately, in this phase, people aren’t in famine but are at risk of famine if the problem continues to go unseen. So, Peru aligned itself with the World Food Program (WFP), to address the deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, by fortifying rice to add these important nutrients in hopes of increasing healthy diet habits (as a lot of people have anemia), while not changing the food. With fortified rice, it would be more accessible to families with lower incomes, as rice is a staple food in Peru, and at a reasonable price to help prevent malnourishment and famine. Fortified rice is also mandatory because in 2021 a law was passed which required it, which also reassures that this would be a continuous thing that would help alleviate famine. Finally, the last issue on famine in Peru originates from the natural disasters of El Niño causing the production of agriculture to be inconsistent. Climate Shocks also make food production inconsistent, for example in the Amazonas region, there have been recurring extreme rainfall, earthquakes, and landslides. Producing more food despite these natural disasters has been hard, however, Peru has tried to improve irrigation and water management to prevent the effects of the heavy rains, and they have tried to plant more resilient crops, so there isn’t a huge amount of food wasted due to damages with the disasters.

The delegation of Peru would like to continue fortifying rice, using strategies against El Nino, and to promote CCT programs to be more global and accessible to help alleviate famine. However, the delegation of Peru wants to try to decrease the inflation, as Peru faces an inflation rate of 4.7% which isn’t terrible to the point where no one can afford anything but with this current number, many people, especially in rural areas are struggling to have food meet the table, as simple, basic nutritious foods have become too expensive in their budget. Going back to wanting to increase fortifying rice, Peru thinks this would be better as it would prevent diseases such as anemia from being exposed to more, and it would be more accessible at a decent cost that even someone with a low income could afford, so famine could be reduced. Then since Peru is frequently exposed to natural disasters, such as El Nino, Peru wants to try and prevent many agriculture from being damaged from said disasters, so if there could be more consistent amounts of crops harvested, then people would be able to buy these products more easily, as they would get cheaper and then famine too could be reduced. Finally, with the CCT programs, Peru would want to continue having them all the while, maybe trying to push for it to be globally accessible, as with JUNTOS they aim to reduce poverty while also having reduced malnutrition, so with these programs Peru can hope to see less famine in the future. Again if CCT programs were expanded into conflict zones, then they could help those who are struggling with famine and poverty by providing government funds directly for those in desperate need, and those who are in conflict zones can depend on CCTs from other countries if needed.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Colin Zaremski

Committee: FAO
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Germany
Delegate: Colin Zaremski
School: Williamston High School

Famine in areas of conflict is one of the most common side effects of war and 65% of the world’s hungriest are in conflict zones. Most of these conflict zones have been cut off from the outside world or are in very remote areas so it’s hard for volunteers to get to the places where people need food the most. One of the best ways to help fight famine in these combat areas is to help fund efforts to work with the governments controlling those areas and fund efforts to get the necessary resources into the hard hit areas. The people in these areas also can’t grow their own food to help combat famine because of the constant violence and fighting preventing farming and preventing any little food that is grown to be taken and given to the people who are fighting in the conflict so this means that the populations are reliant on food being imported and taken to where they are because they can’t leave their location due to that being unsafe. Organizations like the World Food Program work to get food to those locations where people can’t leave and get them the food they need. Recently though there has been a large dip in funding which has made efforts to get food to the conflict zones harder.
Germany has supported large amounts of funding for various acts and organizations to help get food to the necessary areas. Germany has provided over 500 million euros in funding to various organizations to help get food into hard hit regions or out of hard regions such as the case of Ukrainian grain needing to be shipped out of the Black Sea to help other famine stricken places of the world. Germany has also led various efforts to help set up various summits and initiatives to help stop famine across the conflict zones of the world.
Germany’s plan going forward is to continue the high amounts of funding towards important organizations and will continue to lead efforts to help get food to those in conflict zones who are under threat of famine. Germany will expand their assistance of Ukraine to help grow that important grain and get it shipped out to the world so help their efforts in curbing famine in conflict zones. Germany has also been a big proponent of requiring the need to have food as a human right and fighting for that in the UN. Germany encourages other able countries to help provide funding to various efforts that work to stop famine in conflict zones and to assist the various organizations help get food necessary to those regions into those regions and help get food needed to the world out of conflict zones.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Afghanistan
Delegate Name: Jack Cook

The nation of Afghanistan has dealt with famine many times in the past and has seen the horrors that famine and malnutrition can cause especially for developing children. The nation of Afghanistan has also seen many wars and various conflicts in recent history. Such conflicts often come with a severe lack of food for all citizens and soldiers within such conflict zones. Currently, the recognized government of Afghanistan is not in control over its people. The Taliban’s takeover in 2021 is a key example of how conflicts can cause famine and many other severe issues. The Taliban’s takeover left Afghanistan’s economy in shambles which left most Afghans with not enough to eat. In 2022 the United Nations launched The largest single-country aid appeal in its history to finance humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. At this point 95% of Afghanistan’s citizens did not have enough to eat leaving over 3.5 million Afghan children in need of nutrition treatment support.

Recognizing these troubling issues, Afghanistan empathizes with countries suffering from similar situations. Afghanistan will openly support any missions with the goal of eliminating famine from conflict zones and providing humanitarian aid to conflict zones. With this being said, the nation of Afghanistan does not have enough resources to make meaningful contributions to such causes as Afghanistan currently suffers from similar issues within its borders. The exiled government of Afghanistan is completely committed to the removal of famine within all countries regardless of conflicts however counties in conflict should receive a higher priority of care due to various other struggles that come with war. Recognizing this, Afghanistan is one such country that needs current and ongoing assistance as Afghanistan ranks 116th out of 127 recognized countries on the global hunger index. Many initiatives have been started in the past in assistance towards various communities in Afghanistan.

Moving forward, the government of Afghanistan hopes to make the extreme hunger of its citizens one of the main concerns of the government. However with this being said, any action the government of Afghanistan attempts to take in support of its citizens is made exponentially more difficult due to the current control of the country by the Taliban. The violence caused by the Taliban everyday continues to cause problems for the citizens and disrupt the economy of Afghanistan. Keeping this in mind, the exiled government of Afghanistan is seeking urgent help for the nation’s citizens in the form of agricultural support.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: France
Delegate Name: Hannah Hudack

Great Lakes Invitational Model UN Nations Conference
Committee: Food Agriculture Organization
Delegation: France

Famine in Conflict Zones Among France

Within conflict zones, there are about 168 million people experiencing stages of hunger, or even famine. This issue roots from situations of destroyed crops, slowed food production, and people becoming displaced, all because of the wars occurring. Famine is the state of having no access to food for long periods of time, causing disease and starvation. This is exactly what is occurring in some countries because of the conflicts they are in. Families must flee their homes, jobs, and possessions due to the unsafe environments that have taken over their lives. Because of this, starvation and malnutrition begin since these people have no way of getting food, and even if they did, it would not last long enough for them to survive. Countries that are currently experiencing significant hunger because of wars are Mali, South Sudan, and Burkina Faso (Countries). Although this is more common in African countries, Ukraine’s grain production has dramatically decreased because of the war, and countries in Eastern Asia like Afghanistan and Pakistan are also having a food crisis (Food). The Integrated Food Security Classification is a scale that measures which countries are more likely to deal with hunger, which leads the Food Agriculture Organization to know which regions are in more need of food than others. Using this scale along with other observations enable a focused to be placed on famine and although it cannot be fixed immediately it can be helped by using NGOs and other organizations to ensure that our world, and future generations, don’t starve.
France acts as a contributor to those in this situation, not a country that is experiencing famine. Already in 2023, France has donated 500,000 Euros to aid Malawi and another 500,000 Euros to aid Sri Lanka with their economic crisis (France). These are only two out of several contributions France has made to combat world hunger. Not only are they just donating but France acts as a prominent figure in ideas to prevent famine. France has a plan to increase the production of fish in their farms and contribute these fish to the countries in need. However, this plan has sparked pushback for many reasons. The public is stating that this is animal abuse, since the fish are crammed in very little pools of water and are living in these poor conditions, often getting little to no food. Secondly, salmon are carnivores, which means that this plan needs to kill millions of other fish in order for them to be fed, which could also be considered animal abuse (Welfarm). NGOs and public opinions have sparked pushback on this plan and leads France to find a different solution. France has been trying to reestablish Ukraine’s grain system to get their food production back on track and has even donated 6 million euros to help their program (Food). However, even though France is a contributor, it does not mean that they can do this on their own, and that’s why they are part of the World Food Program in order to find solutions.
Solutions in this issue can come from many different establishments. Not only can these come from France since they have possible ideas, but the World Food Program should also be involved since this is their main problem occurring. The farms, “Saumon de France” and “Smart Salmon” are two of France’s biggest farms that reproduce the fish at a fast pace. Although there have been negative reviews, this idea could be one of the best answers to providing food in conflict zones. The farms produce up to 400 tons of fish annually and this is not a collective sum, but from each farm, alone. Not only are there multiple farms all over the country, but after collecting the fish, NGOs could distribute them in areas of famine and conflict. The activists going against these farms need to understand that people are starving, and this idea could significantly make things better. However, we need to also recognize that there are wars and violence occurring in these regions and this is why people cannot get the resources they need to survive (Council). Implementing an area that contains food between the regions that are fighting will be a safe option for the NGO’s and won’t act as a threat for each side, only suggesting food available to those who are starving. This would have to be agreed by the UN governing body and both parties, so they are not siding with one side, or disrupting the war.

Citations:

Council, Security. “Conflict Zone Populations Face Gravest Threat of Hunger amid COVID-19, Aid Experts Tell Security Council, Warning Food Insecurity Worldwide Expected to Double by Year’S End.” United Nations, 17 Sept. 2020, press.un.org/en/2020/sc14308.doc.htm. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

“Countries Where Hunger Is Most Severe.” Action Against Hunger, 1 Jan. 2024, www.actionagainsthunger.org/the-hunger-crisis/world-hunger-facts/the-worlds-hungriest-countries/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

“France’s International Strategy for Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture.” Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, 1 Jan. 2001, www.donorplatform.org/post/france-has-released-its-new-international-strategy/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

“Food Security – France Continues to Take Action to Strengthen Global Food Security (26 November 2022).” France Diplomacy, 26 Nov. 2022, www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/development-assistance/other-major-sectors/food-security-nutrition-and-sustainable-agriculture/news/article/food-security-france-continues-to-take-action-to-strengthen-global-food. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Welfarm. “In France, Projects of Salmon RAS Farms Spark off Strong Pushback from Citizens and NGOs.” Aquaculture, 16 Aug. 2024, aquaculturemag.com/2024/08/16/in-france-projects-of-salmon-ras-farms-spark-off-strong-pushback-from-citizens-and-ngos/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Spain
Delegate Name: Sophia Plencner

Position Paper: Famine in Conflict Zones

Country: Spain

Committee: The Food and Agriculture Organization

Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones

Introduction:

The famine crisis in conflict zones is a dangerous and often persistent threat that plagues far more vulnerable citizens than it needs to. As a nation committed to protecting our citizens, we have been tirelessly fighting the prevalence of malnutrition and stunting of growth in our country. This position paper details Spain’s concerns, positions, and possible solutions to solve the famine epidemic in conflict zones.

Spain’s Perspective:

Spain understands the risk of malnutrition and its effects. Famine is one of the leading underlying causes of death among the masses and contributes to the high percentages of declining weights in young adults and children. Spain is particularly concerned about the following issues:

Declining Populations: The increase of famine in conflict zones deepens the loss of citizens within our borders, a topic we are very concerned about.
War/outbreaks: Famine and malnutrition can lead to fights over what little supplies/food are in specific conflict zones, often leading to more disputes directed toward government officials.
Loss of workers: The overall loss of citizens means that many jobs will be left unfulfilled. The remaining workers may raise their prices, often leading to inflation within already struggling industries and economies.

Spain’s Policy Positions:

Spain regards a parliamentary but international approach to tackle the effects of famine in conflict zones in the country. The Key policy positions include:
Reducing percentages of poverty and famine: Spain is dedicated to lowering the percentage of citizens who are underweight, malnourished, and struggling.
Strengthening the unity of citizens: Spain is determined to unify and bring together its citizens to grapple the challenges of famine in troubling spots and areas within our borders.
Bringing awareness: Spain is aware that bringing awareness to problems within our country is the first step to addressing situations and to overcome obstacles.
Lessening overall amount of conflict zones: Spain understands that lessening our areas of conflict will ultimately reduce famine in those regions, giving new opportunities to citizens and expanding areas for development.
Proposed Solutions:
To tackle the effects of famine in conflict zones in the country, Spain proposes the following solutions:
Donate: Donate to affected areas/communities to support vulnerable citizens to lessen their suffering.
Work/volunteer: Volunteer to aid and support vulnerable peoples through action.
Solve differences off of the battlefield: Solving differences and violence before it becomes big enough to start war.
Create more sustainable farming practices: Planting and distributing crops or food to affected communities that will last longer, supporting more citizens.
Conclusion:
Spain is committed to lessening the amount of famine in and out of conflict zones. By working together and with other nations, we can not only address situations such as depleting malnourishment and poverty within our borders, but also help other countries to do so as well.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Adam Bonde

Iran in its past has faced one large famine within any conflict zone; this was during World War I. Between 1917 and 1919, when the Persian Famine occurred, it is estimated that Iran faced a devastating 10 million Persian deaths. Originally, in the war, Iran was a neutral country, but due to its strategic geographical positioning, it ended up becoming a battleground for Britain, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. The occupation of armies within the lands disrupted agriculture aspects as well as resource management, leading to widespread famine in the case of drought, hunger, and epidemics like cholera and influenza. After recovering from the devastating 10 million citizen decline that this famine caused, Iran learned certain strategies to avoid widespread famine in the future. This knowledge came in handy during the Iran-Iraq War in 1980-1988, in which we never faced a famine because of the governmental interventions and utilization of famine-resilient measures, for example, food rationing and subsidies, as well as a centralized food distribution system that ensured storage of basic food necessities for only the public and disregarded the military due to what had happened during World War I. Reflecting on these past issues within Iran, it is important to the safety within Iran and to neighboring countries that Iran provides knowledge and aid to other regional powers that face famine, like Syria. Along with FAO, Iran has initiated an ideal to strengthen humanitarian response capacity, ensuring the ability to provide food security in conflict zones. Also, through the FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), Iran has supported initiatives to prevent future famine and stabilize current issues. Separate from NENA, the Iranian government has worked with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and FAO to assist in the rehabilitation of war-torn regions and provide food, aid, and agricultural support for such regions.

The delegation of Iran recognizes that its geographical positioning is favorable to support numerous regions experiencing an acute sourcing of food. With Iran’s recovering irrigation and agriculture institutions, there are limited resources that can be provided directly from Iran. Despite this, the delegation of Iran offers a sentiment of peace and prosperity in the form of collecting and distributing humanitarian goods, including but not limited to, Afghanistan if they so choose to amend, Syria, and Yemen as they face one of the most devastating food crises, with over 17 million facing hunger insecurity, 50% either children or pregnant women, and an IPC 5 (famine). Yemen and other countries facing hunger rely up to 70% on food imports to support their respective populations. Iran offers its support as well as passing its sentiment to FAO along with other interested delegations to support and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian goods to these famine-spread conflict zones along with the donation of knowledge on recovery from an agricultural and economic fallout.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: India
Delegate Name: Xinyu Wang

Committee: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Republic of India
Delegate: Xinyu Wang, City High Middle School

Famine in conflict zones is one of the most urgent humanitarian crises facing millions of human beings around the world. In conflict areas, food security rapidly declines into imminent hunger and malnutrition. All these factors put together, combined with disrupted agricultural production, blocked food supplies, and general destruction of infrastructure, only worsen matters and drive the hungry section of the population to the edge of starvation. For India, as a nation deeply committed to international peace and development, the issue of famine in conflict zones carries both moral and strategic overtones.

Conflict-induced famine is on the rise, with the most affected areas being Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, are among the vulnerable. Violence-related displacement causes farming disruption, impairs market access, and destroys basic services, which are limited in conflict zones. Security challenges and restricted access hamper humanitarian efforts of food aid, leaving millions not adequately covered.

India has contributed by way of humanitarian aid in the form of food donations and also by facilitating peacekeeping missions to help in the international effort toward food security. Nevertheless, despite these various inputs, famine has continued to create havoc in many conflict areas, hence the real cry for a unified international response in the resolution of both the root causes and the consequences of food insecurity in situations of conflict.

The most dominant factor that makes famine prevail in such regions of conflict is that one of the big challenges of delivering aid in insecure environments is that warring factions may obstruct food distribution, utilize food supplies as weapons, or deny access to the agencies providing aid. It also destroys infrastructure, which in turn reduces access to food and agricultural inputs for those in need. The prolonged instability in these regions leads to economic collapse, complicating food access and affordability to affected populations further.

Political barriers often interfere with the work of international agencies when responding to famine. Most conflicts involve various actors with competing interests; therefore, negotiating safe passage for humanitarian aid can be no easy task. In some situations, security threats against foreign aid workers make the organizations withdraw, hence leaving the local populations without much or any support.

India feels that the international community must underpin food security as an integral component of peacebuilding in conflict zones. As a developing nation, having overcome famine in its history, India has developed a recognition of the need to build resilience, sustainable agriculture, and diplomatic engagements necessary to mitigate the effects of conflicts on food security. India calls for humanitarian access to be guaranteed within conflict areas and for strengthened protection of civilians and aid workers.

India calls upon the FAO and its member states to work out international arrangements that would protect and guarantee humanitarian access in areas of conflict. Negotiations on humanitarian corridors and ceasefires are very important for allowing safe and unhindered access to food and other essential supplies.Similarly, India believes that the aid effort should not be limited to the distribution of only emergency food, but one should work towards strengthening local food systems. Investment in conflict-resilient agriculture means the distribution of fast-growing seeds and resilient crops, which would further empower local people and enable them to take care of their needs amidst hostilities.India calls for increased financial commitments by the international community to fund food aid and recovery programs in conflict zones. India further urges the establishment of an international emergency fund for famine relief in war-affected areas so that resources would be promptly available. India impresses that peace building is an integral part of how famine is being addressed in conflict zones. The options of diplomatic solutions and conflict resolution are key in averting wars that cause food shortages. India urges the FAO to work with other UN bodies to impress upon countries that peace is a sure way toward food security. India reiterates its call for strict adherence to international laws on protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. It calls for the protection of the rights of non-combatants and urges that the use of food as a weapon of war by one party against another is not acceptable. Accountability measures should be in place to ensure compliance with these laws. India would like to propose that FAO contribute to raising greater awareness globally about the crisis of famine in conflict zones. Campaigns and educational programs would let the public be made aware of the humanitarian consequences of conflict-induced famine and thus build support for diplomatic and humanitarian solutions.

India reiterates its commitment to addressing famine in the warring areas with a comprehensive approach of humanitarian assistance which embarks on peace building and sustains agriculture. India also reiterates its preparedness to collaborate with the FAO and other Member States in implementing practical solutions that protect the most vulnerable from war and create a world where no person has to go hungry because of that war.

sources
1. United Nations. “World Food Programme Annual Report.”
2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Global Report on Food Crises 2022.”
3. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. “India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Response.”

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Belgium
Delegate Name: Olivia Sokol

Committee: ECOSOC
Topic: Famine in conflict zones
Delegate: Olivia Sokol
School: Williamston High School

Famine is a dangerous issue prominent in areas of the world. Famine in conflict zones prevents citizens and people from accessing food or growing food for not only the economy but for survival. Conflict is the primary cause of famine. Famine has been seen in areas across the Middle East, and Africa, but especially in war zones like Palestine, Sudan and Syria. About 2⁄3 of countries facing famine are active war zones. There has been a 40% increase in conflict-hunger situations since 2020. There have been several worldwide programs to help combat hunger, especially in conflict zones, but the issue has not ceased to exist completely. 120 million people worldwide have been displaced from their homes due to famine and living conflict zones. Famine and conflict cannot exist without each other; where there is conflict, there is famine, and where there is famine, there is conflict.

In the past, Belgium has put in place multiple policies and programs to help combat this ongoing issue. They became members of the World Food Program (WFP) in 1985 and have been donating and feeding families that face hunger and famine ever since. Belgium helped support the Russian/Ukrainian conflict by supporting the mediation efforts led by the UN, they helped push the “Black Sea Grain Initiative” which allowed blocked grain ships to start operating again and be released for international markets. This will provide more resources which will open up for more seaport economy and advancements. Belgium has always shown great interest in providing what they can, whether its humanitarian aid or donating to war zone countries. In 2021, Belgian development cooperation spent 142 Million euros on agriculture and food security. The direct funds from the humanitarian aid go straight to countries in warzones or conflicted areas, such as Palestine, Sudan and Syria. In 2022, Ukraine was added to the list for direct food/famine help.

In the future, Belgium agreed that the UN council must act to prevent conflicts that will aggravate or cause hunger in countries. Belgium plans to spend 60% of its humanitarian aid through flexible funds and general budgets. This will allow secured and efficient money deployments in countries that need it urgently. Belgium believes that only a holistic approach can relieve the situation, and that is exactly what they are trying to focus on. Belgian development cooperation as well as many NGOs plan on transitioning to sustainable food systems, which will allow them to approach the situation more holistically. They are taking approaches like testing out recycled soil, and expanding on crop diversity so Belgium will have an array of products to disperse. Belgium will continue to always push to end this dangerous issue, and will continue to be nothing but generous to the countries in need. Belgium will never deny the opportunity of support from other countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands, and organizations and will take all the help they can get to cease the problem of famine.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Jackson Bunda

SUBMITTED TO: The Food and Agriculture Organization
SUBJECT: Famine in Conflict Zones
PROPOSED BY: The Republic of Venezuela
NAME: Jackson Bunda
SCHOOL: Forest Hills Northern

Alarmed by the extreme food shortages along the border regions, noting the closing of farms and factories as well as the increasing number of food riots, Venezuela recommends the UN, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, take further action to lower famine in Conflict Zones by increasing Humanitarian Aid. Your support and involvement are crucial in this endeavor.

As Venezuela continues to encounter famine in conflict zones, supplying food to its citizens remains a top priority. Venezuela, on its own, has taken measures to actively distribute food through programs such as CLAP (Local Committees for Supply and Production), Mercal, and Bodega, all of which work to deliver essential staple cooking ingredients to those in need. Venezuela has also actively participated in the UN with Cuba, Turkey, and China to trade oil and natural minerals for food. Venezuela has also actively participated globally within the UN, previously within the FAO, where it has constantly advocated for greater food distribution and supported the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmation, which declared all people were equally entitled to the right to food and adequate living. However, Venezuela believes that in order to handle its own, as well as many other countries’ conflicts in famine zones, further actions need to be taken as 60% of Venezuelans face food insecurity, and 25% of UN Nations worldwide also suffer from significant forms of food insecurity.

To address these problems, Venezuela proposes a key solution: increasing Humanitarian Aid. This action, if implemented, would allow Venezuela and other countries to pool and expand commercial funding, re-establish plantations and farms throughout affected countries, and create opportunities for economic development. Venezuela also suggests that the UN should play a role in increasing Food Security, which would then, in turn, lower Famine in Conflict zones by providing safe seeds and fertilizers that align with select countries’ agricultural policies and disseminating knowledge on agrarian practices to rehabilitate newly established farms.

SOURCES:

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
https://www.unocha.org/
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
https://www.csis.org/
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
https://www.fao.org/
The World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Maximus Hengeveld

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Famine in Conflict Zones
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Maximus Hengeveld
Forest Hills Eastern High School
Famine is described as “extreme deprivation of food”. The FAO and other organizations currently rely on the IPC system to detect and find where current famines might be to give aid to them. Currently IPC detects 168 million are going through food crises, these are all seen in war zones such as; Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip. Additionally, because of the Ukraine and Russia war, Ukraine has ceased its export of surplus grain. This has caused prices for food to rise, and it decreased the emergency food aid for others that need it. The United Nations has given humanitarian aid to those in conflict zones to try and help, and they have implemented early warning systems to help monitor those who they think will enter a famine. The FAO cannot fix this problem by itself and requires other UN countries to aid these famines and go through the potential costs of this. Algeria wants to help and solve this problem with other UN nations.
Algeria has not had a major role in helping these famines so far. Although Algeria hasn’t had the best part in helping, they have been taking refugees from these war zones, and working with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food for them. It is estimated that Algeria has taken in over 173,000 refugees and given them safety. Algeria would like to help more but they are limited due to the fact that they are having some of their own internal problems right now with food. Due to this Algeria would like to request the help of other UN nations to aid in fixing its own internal problems with food.
Algeria needs to work with other nations more to help them with the aid of famine in war zones. They also could work on their own internal problems with food so they can start sending out more aid. Algeria would like to have invested more resources to aid those that need it. Additionally Algeria would like to help rebuild the post-conflict and development efforts in these war zones so they can sustain themselves. Finally Algeria encourages the committee to work with other nations to help aid these famines.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Vivienne Grzelak

Delegate: Viv Grzelak
School: Williamston High School
Country: Republic of Korea
Committee: FAO
Topic: Famine in Conflict Zones

Famine in conflict zones is a serious issue in our world. As seen in the conflict zones like DRC & Gaza, famine is a huge risk as of right now. Due to lack of clean drinking water and edible food, these areas face the risk of famine everyday. The conflict in these areas causes supplies needed to survive to become scarce for the innocent people who need it the most. Historically, countries who have faced conflict in the past have used rapid reconstruction and development plans to rebuild their societies after the conflict period was over, as in the case of the Republic of Korea. NGOs helping countries dealing with food security problems has proven beneficial, but due to conflict in some of these areas help has proven to be not as accessible because of the dangerous conditions.

The Republic of Korea has had a history of conflict and used to be a recipient of the World Food Program. Now that it is a stable country with no current conflict, it has become a top donor for the WFP. In recent years the Republic of Korea has donated over 40 million dollars to go towards food security in conflict zones like Syria, Yemen, and Kenya. Yemen in particular has been promised by the Republic of Korea’s government to help them in light of their humanitarian crisis; donating over 19 million US dollars to help with humanitarian aid and providing the people of Yemen with South Korean rice.

As the Republic of Korea has been a known donor to humanitarian causes to help with countries in conflict, we emphasize to other developed nations to help humanitarian causes in conflict zones. This would help build strong relations with developing nations. Thinking of developing nations who need more aid, should be discussed thoroughly going forth and seeing how to solve this conflict within a conflict is of the utmost importance.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Carter Hilliard

After receiving millions in humanitarian aid from foreign nations in the past few years to help with flood relief, Pakistan is extremely grateful for and in favor of the practice. Because of Pakistan’s recent flood caused famine, Pakistan considers itself to be aligned with areas experiencing famine, including conflict zones. Pakistan supports nearly all measures to prevent and reduce the impact of famine, especially in conflict zones, where the people are already suffering.

Though Pakistan rarely gives humanitarian aid on account of the lacking many essential resources themselves, they are fully supportive of the practice, in particular as a way to help nations experiencing famine. Extreme flooding in 2022 and 2023 caused by monsoon rains lead to a large famine across Pakistan, resulting in many other nations and non-governmental organizations giving around 80 million US dollars to help the situation. This event, as well as previous situations in which Pakistan has received famine related humanitarian aid, lead Pakistan to highly encourage all nations with resources available to assist those experiencing famine however possible.

As a nation that currently is experiencing multiple sources of conflict, both external and internal, Pakistan understands the need for aid in conflict zones. Again, due to their own struggles, Pakistan has not been able to directly provide assistance to conflict zones and has actually received a large amount in aid due to conflict, approximately 120 million US dollars from the UN Refugee Agency alone. Because of this, Pakistan supports all measures to give humanitarian aid to conflict zones, in particular those across Southern Asia and the Middle East.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Jordan
Delegate Name: Kaianne Sayen

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been involved in conflict throughout history. With a high percentage of refugees Jordan has had to deal with food insecurity in conflict areas due to high pressure of resource use there. Morally, we feel this issue is imperative to address. While the food and agriculture organization cannot resolve conflict we must help with food shortages and insecurity internationally with increasing issues in Sudan. Jordan wants to bring aid related to food to areas of conflict through humanitarian aid and effective agricultural practices. Additionally, as a country who relies on food imports, we understand that international cooperation is important for food sources during times of conflict. Jordan understands the importance of separating politics from the need for food security in areas of conflict and wants to develop ways to ensure needs are being met. Jordan recommends that the committee create safe areas for the distribution of food, promote cooperation for food security, and collect new data for effective distribution of food.

Topic: 2024-Famine in Conflict Zones
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Sundos Hejazi

Famine is not a naturally occurring issue, and a factor that majorly affects famine and hunger within a population is conflict. For this reason, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia firmly believes in the necessity of working to encourage sustainable and self-sufficient food production in areas like Ukraine and Gaza, reducing the possibility of famine in these conflict zones. Possible solutions for the long term include plans to find methods of sustainably planting and growing food like by optimizing farming knowledge, specifically in regions overcome by conflict and the threat of famine. Ethiopia strongly urges prioritizing famine in conflict zones as a major world problem and developing solutions for the future using sustainable agriculture.

Famine in conflict zones is a major-scale issue, as it threatens entire populations. A 2018 UN report recognized hunger as a leading cause of forced displacement, which in turn, damages agricultural production. Current examples include the Ukraine and Gaza situations, and they are prime examples of why we must prioritize the threat of famine, as it could wipe out millions of people in those regions and many others around the world. Ethiopia strongly believes that members of the United Nations should put more funding and importance towards solutions like implementing soil maps, as they are proven to improve the effectiveness of fertilizer and the overall efficiency of food production. In Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Soil Information System led to the production of soil maps and a national soil database, both of which yielded incredibly beneficial results for the Ethiopian agriculture sector by revealing needed information about the soil and the fertilizers it needed. Since this has been proven to work, we encourage the implementation of these soil maps across the region, especially in conflict areas like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

In order to foster these systems, we require an agreement between two opposing nations in conflict areas that allows for these soil maps to be created and used peacefully, without being targeted. The FAO cannot tackle this roadblock alone; we need the funding and support of other government agencies. Ethiopia urges the UN to involve organizations like the WFP in conversations about fighting famine, especially by increasing the presence of soil maps to maximize fertilizer use and knowledge. Soil maps provide relevant information about soil fertility and advise farmers on what kind of fertilizer to use and where, which means land would be optimized and used to its full potential, allowing for more food production and less threat of famine, specifically in conflict areas that are unable to survive off of humanitarian aid or global assistance as their food production slows or stops. UN member Maria Hega reported that “Small-scale farming is key to food systems that contribute to peaceful and healthy communities.” Since smaller farms allow for sustainability and agricultural independence, it is the UN’s duty to turn its attention to any helpful resources, like soil maps, to encourage small-scale farmers and improve food security levels in conflict areas.

For these reasons, Ethiopia stands in firm belief that famine in conflict zones is a global threat, and the most effective way to combat it is through the application of soil maps to maximize farming and agriculture opportunities for those in conflict areas.

Sources:https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/95f9832f-2ebf-46ce-9208-f9f29b1fa902/content
https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit/news/breaking-vicious-circle-hunger-and-conflict

Position papers for GLIMUN 2024 will appear above this line, with the newest being at the top.