Today 11 March, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets attended a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council on hunger and conflict, organised by the US Presidency of the Council. The meeting was held to address the famines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in many parts of the world.
“The deliberate starving of the population as a method of warfare is a grave war crime,” Liimets said in her statement. “This is set out in the amendments to the Rome Statute and we call on state parties to ratify them.”
The minister’s statement highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan. “Food security there is in its worst state yet. They need help from the international community and therefore I am happy that Estonia decided to make a contribution to the World Food Programme to mitigate the situation there,” the minister said.
She also expressed serious concern over the situation in Ethiopia. “The government of Ethiopia must make more efforts to help the population of the Tigray region where millions of people are in urgent need of food, water, protection and essential services. Reports of brutal human rights violations are also extremely concerning and I consider it crucial to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances.”
Afghanistan is also battling famine. The stalled peace negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan officials and excessive levels of violence across the country severely hamper the provision of humanitarian aid to those in need.
“It is up to all members of the Security Council to prevent famine and humanitarian crises and respond to them,” Minister Liimets said in conclusion.
In addition to representatives of UN Security Council members, speakers included Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres, Executive Director of the World Food Programme David Beasley and Executive Director of Oxfam Gabriela Bucher.
The statement of Minister Liimets in full: https://vm.ee/en/news/security-council-open-debate-conflict-and-food-security-statement-minister-foreign-affairs