New York- FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and the President of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins, have concurred upon the importance of using FAO’s regular advanced and updated analysis of food security statuses in countries in conflict. The agreement was made during a meeting held in the President’s office in New York, on the sidelines of the UNSC’s Arria Formula on Food Security and Peace. 

FAO, other UN agencies and partners currently work on important early warning mechanisms such as the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) and the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) to assess the food insecurity situation in these countries. 

In this context, Graziano da Silva said FAO would provide a consolidated report every three months to the UN Security Council members, especially on the countries that are on the permanent agenda of the top UN body, such as Syria, South Sudan and Central African Republic, among others.  

“FAO is able to survey families that are in conflict areas and then know what they have or have not eaten due to this conflict”, said Graziano da Silva.

In his turn, Ambassador Martins expressed his willingness to bring FAO’s database as a standing item of the Council from this point forward. 

UNSC meeting

During the meeting, the President of the Security Council acknowledged FAO’s role in highlighting the importance of the connection between food security, nutrition, peace and development. 

“I am proud to have FAO in this discussion and we feel as part of your team in this journey against hunger and food insecurity in countries in conflict”, said Ambassador Martins, who has been the Permanent Representative of Angola to the UN since 2001.