Joint Nordic statement by H.E. Anna Jóhannsdóttir,
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations 
Security Council Open Debate on Conflict Related Food Insecurity
17 November, 2025

Mr. President & members of the Security Council,  

I deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Iceland. We thank Sierra Leone for organizing this briefing and the briefers for sharing their insights. 
 
Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity globally and at this very moment we see famine in both Sudan and Gaza. 

This is not new - sadly, we have seen these or similar conditions in Gaza and Sudan since 2024, and in South Sudan the risk of famine looms yet again. This is not due to insufficient food. These are man-made emergencies, driven by conflict, and all steps must be taken to prevent further catastrophe.

The situation in Sudan is extremely dire, with two regions now enduring a famine that is at high risk of spreading to multiple other areas. Levels of malnutrition are extremely high with millions of people affected, leaving women, children and the elderly in highly precarious conditions. 

According to the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, more than 295 million people faced acute hunger last year, notably in Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti and Afghanistan. This is a sobering figure that highlights the urgent need for action.

Mr. President

The Nordics applaud the tireless efforts of UN agencies and humanitarian partners in Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere who continue to deliver in extremely challenging circumstances. The UN and other humanitarian organisations must be fully enabled to deliver humanitarian aid including food to alleviate the suffering of civilians.  

The Nordics urge all parties to armed conflicts to fully comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and to ensure full, safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access and not to deprive civilians of objects indispensable for their survival.

We remind all parties to conflict that resolution 2417, which was unanimously adopted by the Security Council 7 years ago, strongly condemns the use of starvation as a method of warfare. It urges parties to armed conflict to protect civilian infrastructure and ensure the proper functioning of food systems and markets.

It is important to remember that hunger itself can fuel conflict, perpetuating a vicious cycle of instability and violence. Breaking this cycle requires ensuring predictable humanitarian access to reach those most in need. Furthermore, it requires protecting civilian infrastructure and safeguarding the proper functioning of food systems and markets. And it requires the political will to uphold international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Mr. President

Climate change, disrupted food chains, and conflict are interconnected drivers of food insecurity. Climate shocks are a strain on already fragile food systems, and conflict can disrupt trade routes and destroy critical infrastructure. This disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable communities.

Beyond these immediate food crises, we have also witnessed how Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has dramatically impacted global food security and food prices, causing ripple effects far beyond the immediate area.

Mr. President

We have an obligation to prevent hunger in times of conflict. Prevention means anticipatory action, sustainable investment and political accountability. It also means ensuring that food security, climate resilience, and peace and security, are addressed together, not in isolation.

In closing, we would like to fully endorse the appeal to support sustainable food systems. It is vital that we invest in - and actively support - comprehensive, multi-dimensional policies such as school meal programmes. These initiatives deliver a wide range of benefits: improved health, stronger social protection, better educational outcomes, enhanced local food systems, and, collectively, greater resilience.

I thank you.