Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Food Security and Nutrition
– Syria
– Central African Republic
– Yemen
– Libya
– Mali
– COVID-19/Peacekeeping
– COVID-19/Philippines
– COVID-19/Kazakhstan
– COVID-19/Organized Crime
– Resident Coordinators
– High-Level Political Forum
– Rise For All
FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
The latest edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, published today, estimates that almost 690 million people went hungry in 2019 – up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years. That is up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years.
High costs and low affordability also mean billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously.
In a video message, the Secretary-General warned that the pandemic is making things even worse and many more people could slip into hunger this year. He stressed that we cannot let this happen and that the report is clear: if the current trend continues, we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2, that is zero hunger, by 2030.
And, to talk about this report, today my guest will be Maximo Torero Cullen, the Assistant Director-General for the Economic and Social Development Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
SYRIA
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General took note of the Security Council’s decision on Saturday to extend the UN cross-border mechanism in northwest Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for twelve months.
This reauthorization will help ensure that humanitarian assistance for 2.8 million people in need in the northwest is sustained until July next year. Cross-border humanitarian assistance remains a lifeline for millions of people in need in the area and beyond.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all parties to the conflict to ensure humanitarian access to all people in need in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=13%20July%202020