Food

​​​​​​​While the newly signed deal to resume grain exports through Ukrainian ports offers a “beacon of hope” for countries in increasingly desperate need, close coordination among the parties involved will be critical to its success, the United Nations political affairs chief stressed today, as delegates in the Security Council both welcomed its potential for staving off famine and condemned the strike on the port of Odesa less than 24 hours later that threw that likelihood into jeopardy.

Senior humanitarian directors of United Nations agencies and partners wrapped up a visit yesterday to Somalia where the threat of famine looms, with more than seven million people already acutely food insecure. Assistance has reached over four million drought-affected people, but aid workers face severe funding shortfalls.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the Development Programme continue to help build national capacity, with 27 Internal Security Forces heads of units, including five women, participating in training on “Central African model community policing”.

The Joint Coordination Centre was inaugurated today in Istanbul with Ukraine, Russian Federation, Türkiye and United Nations representatives. The Centre will facilitate implementing the Black Sea Grain Initiative on allowing ships to exporting grain and related foodstuffs from Ukraine.

​​​​​​​The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

In Haiti, United Nations humanitarian colleagues have started delivering humanitarian assistance to help people in the commune of Cité Soleil, as well as in other Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods. Enough food to feed 7,000 people for a week has been distributed, along with drinking water and kits of basic relief items.

In Burundi, the United Nations has allocated $1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help 340,000 people in areas affected by Rift Valley fever. The viral disease primarily affects livestock, a large component of the economy which accounts for 14 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

The hybrid third Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development concluded in Tokyo, with over 2,000 participants considering potential win-win solutions to tackle the climate emergency and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has funded a renovation of a radio station in Bentiu. The network, which previously reached 35 kilometres, has been upgraded to cover a 200-kilometre radius. The station will help people better understand the peace agreement and how it is being implemented.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the General Assembly special high-level event titled “Time to Act Together: Coordinating Policy Responses to the Global Food Crisis”, in New York today: