Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Joyce Msuya, the deputy head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), delivered a blunt warning: armed conflict is driving the world’s most severe hunger crises, and without decisive political action, famine conditions will worsen in several regions. Msuya stressed that today's hunger is overwhelmingly human-made.
Her remarks drew heavily on new findings from the Hunger Hotspots report. According to the assessment, the famines unfolding in parts of Gaza and Sudan, as well as the deteriorating situations in South Sudan, Yemen, and Syria stem from prolonged insecurity, repeated attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, destruction of agricultural systems, and barriers to humanitarian access.
“The more intense the violence, the worse the food insecurity. Attacks harming civilians and civilian infrastructure leave fields abandoned, disrupt food supply chains, drive up prices and destroy livelihoods,” said Msuya, who is also the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Speaking on behalf of Tom Fletcher, the OCHA chief and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Msuya highlighted Yemen as one of the most alarming cases, where "17 million are going hungry and another 1 million are forecast to."
"In Yemen, […] damage to infrastructure has impeded imports, ongoing conflict is displacing people and exacerbating economic decline while extreme humanitarian access constraints and insecurity limit aid delivery in critical parts of the country," she said
Her concerns echoed similar patterns in Syria, where years of conflict have devastated agricultural production, and where mine contamination has rendered many fields inaccessible. Displacement remains widespread, further weakening local food systems and the communities that depend on them.
Msuya warned that beyond the immediate lack of food, rising hunger exposes civilians to further threats.
"Hunger is exposing people to greater risks of sexual exploitation and abuse and forced displacement as people struggle simply to feed themselves. Women are especially impacted, often going without to prioritize their families," she added.
International humanitarian law (IHL) prohibits the use of starvation as a method of warfare, the UN official reminded the Council. Attacks on objects indispensable to civilian survival are also forbidden - obligations that are reinforced by Security Council Resolution 2417.
“And in situations of violence in which the rules of war don’t apply, international human rights law and minimum humanitarian standards play an equally vital role in preventing and addressing hunger,” Msuya said.
“Humanitarian action is also essential to prevent and address hunger in conflict. When humanitarian access is denied, hunger and malnutrition rise - often with devastating consequences for civilians.”
She stressed that parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian relief and ensure that humanitarian workers have the freedom of movement needed to carry out their work, referring to several Security Council resolutions (2417 and 2730) that reiterate these duties.
Yet in many conflicts, restrictions on humanitarian operations persist, and aid workers themselves are increasingly targeted. Msuya described the record number of attacks on humanitarians in recent years as “appalling” and cautioned that such incidents have a profound impact on communities’ access to life-saving assistance.
The UN official also called on member states to condemn these attacks and push for consistent, credible investigations in every context.
“One month into the ceasefire in Gaza, the UN and our partners are seizing every opening to save lives. Millions of meals have been provided. Nutrition sites have reopened, and some medical services have resumed, among other progress,” she said.
“But access is still restricted by limits at border crossings, delays to aid convoys and bureaucratic impediments that slow the entry of vital supplies - and, in some cases, staff.”
Meanwhile, Sudan remains the most severe hunger emergency globally. Conflict has displaced millions and dismantled food systems, leaving more than 21 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Vast areas remain inaccessible due to fighting, and many civilians trapped between front lines are enduring extreme, unassisted hunger.
The UN, including OCHA, continuously negotiates access, coordinates operations, and tracks humanitarian movements. However, these efforts depend on the cooperation of all parties to the conflict, which is often absent.
Msuya emphasized that practical measures can improve access, such as simplifying bureaucratic procedures and clearing unexploded ordnance so that aid convoys and farmers can move safely. Sustained funding, she added, remains indispensable.
However, she argued that even with strong coordination and resources, the situation cannot improve without political will. Hunger driven by conflict, she said, is a political challenge, not just a logistical one.
Msuya urged the members of the Security Council, as well as all UN member states, to leverage their influence to address hunger in conflict zones and pressure parties involved in conflicts to respect international law.
“This means sustained political dialogue and diplomatic engagement and using tools at your disposal to influence parties. As part of that, making compliance with international law a condition for arms exports is essential,” she said.
She urged them to adopt strong policies and practices to protect civilians and to take strong action to allow unhindered humanitarian operations.
The UN official underscored the need for genuine accountability for violations of IHL, including credible investigations. Where national authorities are unwilling or unable to act, she said, there must be support for international judicial mechanisms.
“Demand and support investigations; adopt legislation to prosecute war crimes; enhance interstate cooperation; and where competent national authorities are unable or unwilling to act, support international jurisdictions,” she explained.
Her message was straightforward: preventing famine requires more than emergency food aid. It requires diplomacy, compliance with international norms, and decisive action from those with the power to influence the conduct of war. Without these measures, millions will continue to face hunger, not because food is unavailable, but because violence prevents it from reaching them.
Further information
Full text: Deputy Emergency Relief Chief urges the Security Council to use leverage to address hunger in conflict, remarks by Joyce Msuya at the UN Security Council, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, delivered on November 17, 2025
https://www.unocha.org/news/deputy-emergency-relief-chief-urges-security-council-use-leverage-address-hunger-conflict