India tells UNSC it is committed to depoliticising global supply of food

Leveraging its G20 presidency, India is committed to depoliticising global supply of food, fertilisers and medical products so that geopolitical tensions do not le to a humanitarian crisis, country’s envoy to United Nations Ruchira Kamboj has told Security Council.

Observing that global food insecurity situation is daunting, with an increasing number of people facing acute food shortages over past four years, Kamboj said international community must work toger to find common solutions through dialogue and diplomacy.

“Leveraging our presidency of G20, India has vocated for greater efforts to accelerate achievement of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), including SDG 2 calling for zero hunger," Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to United Nations said in her dress to UN Security Council’s Open Debate on Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity.

" Indian presidency is committed to, in our Prime Minister’s words, 'depoliticising global supply of food, fertilisers and medical products, so that geopolitical tensions do not le to humanitarian crisis',” she said. “Choosing peace, cooperation, and multilateralism is essential for building our collective future. Strengning international architecture and governance systems to protect global order, global laws, and global values is a shared responsibility,” she said.

Noting that dressing growing food grain shortages requires going beyond current constraints, she said India is committed to playing its part in dressing contemporary global challenges, as reflected in its membership in Champions Group of Global Crisis Response Group.

India supports efforts of UN Secretary-General in continuing Black Sea Grain Initiative and hopes for an early resolution to present impasse. Recent developments in this matter have not helped in securing larger cause of peace and stability, Kamboj said.

“It is necessary for all of us to equately appreciate importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains. We have alrey seen to our great cost how se principles were disregarded in case of Covid-19 vaccines. Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination,” Kamboj said.

Food assistance, she said, alone surely cannot be a long-term sustainable solution to food insecurity and ded that peace-building and development is paramount and must include livelihood support, social protection programmes, and community-based approaches including investment in agriculture infrastructure and capacity-building in rural development, especially in conflict areas.

“This calls for a multi-stakeholder approach,” Indian envoy said.

Stating that armed conflicts, terrorism, extreme wear events, crop pests, food price volatility, exclusion, and economic shocks can devastate any fragile economy, leing to food insecurity and an increased threat of famine, Kamboj said refore, providing capacity-building support to countries facing se challenges in designing, implementing, and monitoring food-related policies and programs is of utmost importance.