FAO to provide UN Security Council with regular analysis on food security status in countries in conflict

FAO Director-General and President of Security Council share views on importance of early warning information

30 March 2016, New York – FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva and the President of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins, have concurred upon the importance of the use of FAO’s regular advanced and updated analysis of food security status in countries in conflict, during a meeting held in the President’s Office, in New York, at 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 to assess the food insecurity situation in those countries, such as the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) and the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

In this context, Graziano da Silva said FAO could provide a consolidated report every three months for the UN Security Council members, especially on the countries that are at the permanent agenda of the top UN body such as Syria, South Sudan, 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 has expressed his willingness to bring FAO’s database as a standing item of the Council from now onwards.

United Nations Security Council meeting  

During the meeting, the President of the Security Council has acknowledged FAO’s role in highlighting the importance of the relation 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 is the Permanent Representative of Angola to the UN since 2001.