Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is currently engaged in addressing issues of starvation and neglect of children throughout the globe in areas of conflict and others with a view to putting in place measures to address the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34198/21]
View answerThe number of people facing acute food insecurity and needing life-saving assistance hit a five-year high in 2020. Conflict, economic shocks related to COVID-19 alongside the impacts of climate change led to 155 million people experiencing acute food insecurity - an increase of 20 million people from the previous year.
Across 55 countries, over 75 million children under five were stunted (too short for their ages) and over 15 million wasted (too thin for their ages). Africa remains disproportionally affected by acute food insecurity, and in a number of countries the situation is deteriorating. Conflict remains a major driver of hunger, and insecurity is a barrier to providing timely and effective assistance.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, established a Task Force on Preventing Famine in March 2021. The Task Force aims to bring high-level attention to famine prevention and mobilize support to the most affected countries.
At the UN Security Council, Ireland plays a leading role on hunger and conflict. Working with Niger, we are leading on the implementation of Resolution 2417, which recognizes the imperative of addressing conflict driven hunger and deals with issues such as starvation as a weapon of war and the denial or impeding of humanitarian access.
In 2021, the UN Secretary-General will convene a Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The Summit will launch ambitious initiatives to deliver progress on the SDGs, by building healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems.
Ireland has been a leader in the fight against hunger. We expect to demonstrate leadership at the Food Systems Summit in September, by championing a food systems approach and shining a light on severe malnutrition.
