Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on famine and threats to international peace and security.
“The main reason we face a risk of famine in Yemen, South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, and Somalia is that fighters are not letting food get to those who need it. In some cases, there are reports that warring parties are trying to starve entire communities into submission. It’s horrifying. And it demands this Council’s full and immediate attention.”
“At the opening of the General Assembly, the United States announced more than $575 million in additional aid, bringing our total contribution to populations affected by this crisis to over $2.4 billion in 2017. We urge all UN Member States to join us and do their part. But more funding, however necessary, will not be enough.”
“The job of this Council is the promotion and maintenance of peace, security, and human rights. Famine prevention is an important part of our mandate. Famine is both the result of the break down in peace, security, and human rights, and the contributor to further violence and insecurity. We request this Council’s sustained attention to this good and necessary work. We ask that we not stop at words and donations alone. Let’s go one step further to hold those preventing access accountable for their crimes.”
Full transcript of remarks: https://go.usa.gov/xnasJ
