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Opening Remarks by H.E. MR. Collen V. Kelapile President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during the 2022 ECOSOC Meeting on the Transition from Relief to Development

Attachments

Excellencies, Vice-Presidents and Co-Chairs;

Madame Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed;

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

  1. It is a great pleasure for me to join Their Excellencies the Vice-Presidents, Diego Pary Rodríguez of Bolivia and Miia Rainne of Finland, Co-Chairs of this important Meeting on Transition from Relief to Development.

  2. I also wish to thank the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohammed, for participating in this annual meeting.

  3. This year, the Meeting is held under a new and enhanced mandate, involving a full day of discussions on the two most important issues facing us today --food insecurity and the risk of famine, and displacement.

  4. As such, the theme of the meeting: “Recurrent Crises and Sustainable Solutions: Building Resilience and Addressing Rising Food Insecurity and Displacement”, is very appropriate and timely.

  5. This discussion under such a theme could not have come at a more crucial time. We are living in a truly unprecedented time of convergence of multiple and complex crises, with dramatic consequences for the entire world and particularly for the most vulnerable.

  6. Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 75/290A, this meeting will also focus on Haiti, South Sudan, and the Sahel region, with participation of all relevant stakeholders, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, which will allow for much-needed in-depth discussions to inform and guide country-level coordination and support.

  7. Another key feature of this meeting is that it will focus on building resilience and preparedness and improve the efforts of the international community to respond better to the transition from relief to development, as well as to deliver better results for improving the situation of countries on the ground including countries in conflict, post-conflict and those facing humanitarian emergencies.

  8. Most importantly, this Meeting reinforces and brings together the communities across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding, to strengthen collaboration and cooperation in addressing the extraordinary challenges confronting us, particularly acute food insecurity and risk of famine, and displacement.
    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

  9. The recent report of the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, as well as the latest Global Report on Food Crises paint a highly troubling picture regarding food insecurity.

  10. Food prices are the highest ever recorded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Gas and fertilizer prices have more than doubled since last year.

  11. Ongoing disruptions in global supply chains and financial markets further intensify the crisis. These factors, compounded by climate change and lately by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is having a tremendous impact on food insecurity levels globally.

  12. There are alarming statistics showing that threequarters of a million people risk falling into famine or famine-like conditions this year if they don’t receive assistance.

  13. Displacement is also at record levels high –with more than 59 million people internally displaced, and inclusive of refugees that figure rises to more than 100 million.

  14. Beyond these numbers, we should recognize the resilience and fortitude of each and every one of this displaced people.

  15. Despite these staggering numbers, the food and displacement crises are also not beyond our reach.

  16. The stakeholders here present -- working closer together -- can avert food insecurity and prevent more hunger and famine, by strengthening food security systems and finding durable solutions that build resilience and reduce need, risk and vulnerability.

  17. ECOSOC will continue its work to support transition from relief to sustainable development in countries in conflict, post-conflict and those facing humanitarian emergencies.

  18. We can work to reduce vulnerability, to build resilience and to achieve durable solutions for the internally displaced. With stronger commitment and collaboration, we can overcome these challenges.

  19. For this reason, I am pleased to be taking part in this important meeting and invite you all to make significant contributions to today’s solutions-oriented discussions.

I thank you all for your kind attention.