“The effects of war are no longer felt only where the fighting takes place. What begins as a regional conflict can become a global security risk through energy, trade, and food systems, triggering devastating chain reactions: fuel and fertilizer become more expensive, and bottlenecks in grain imports cause prices for staple foods to skyrocket. For millions of poor families, this means they can no longer feed themselves adequately. In Syria, for example, price increases of up to 40 percent for diesel and gasoline led to large-scale protests, as 90 percent of the population already lives below the poverty line.
Food insecurity does not automatically lead to conflict, but it can intensify existing crises and social tensions. That is why the international community in New York should not discuss the issue of security solely from a military perspective. Security begins with people being able to meet their most basic needs. Food security is therefore not simply one issue among many. It is a fundamental prerequisite for health, a self-determined life, and future opportunities, and is therefore crucial to the resilience and stability of communities and societies. The interplay between violent conflicts and hunger should therefore also be at the top of the agenda,” urges Mathias Mogge, CEO of WHH.
