Early action and respect for IHL can prevent acute food insecurity in armed conflict Mr. President, Excellencies, Eight years after the adoption of Resolution 2417, conflict remains a leading driver of acute food insecurity. We see this firsthand across the ICRC’s operations. Our teams see how hunger in armed conflict is often the cumulative consequence of actions — and inactions — over time. Insecurity prevents farmers from reaching their fields. Markets are disrupted. Fuel shortages affect irrigation and transport. Water and electricity systems deteriorate, affecting production and storage. Disruptions to digital connectivity also deepen food insecurity, impacting supply chains and payment systems. And too often we see humanitarian access constrained or even deliberately obstructed. As food becomes harder to obtain and livelihoods disappear, people are forced to take greater risks and may resort to harmful coping mechanisms simply to feed themselves and their families. Hunger thus becomes both a consequence of conflict and a driver of further harm. Addressing the Council on the occasion of today’s open debate, the ICRC has two messages and two asks. Message 1: Hunger is not an inevitable consequence of war. Existing legal and policy frameworks address hunger in armed conflict, including Resolution 2417. This landmark resolution, unanimously adopted by the Council, provides a clear framework for action — action that can prevent hunger from becoming an additional and compounding layer of crisis in conflict. Timely humanitarian action can also help protect food systems under pressure. Sustaining agriculture and livelihoods during crisis can help prevent further collapse, reducing dependence on emergency assistance and supporting recovery. Message 2: Respect for international humanitarian law is essential to prevention. Food systems depend on interconnected infrastructure and services: water, energy, transport, and markets. Damage and disruption can reverberate across