The US has said that millions of civilians face famine-like conditions in Yemen, Ethiopia and other war zones around the world and is pushing for action against the “warmongers” who use hunger as a weapon.
Washington’s ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged the UN Security Council to become better at spotting famines before they happen and punishing military leaders who block food and other aid from reaching those in need.
According to the UN, more than 88 million people suffered from acute hunger at the end of 2020 due to conflict – a 20 per cent rise compared to the previous year.
And estimates suggest that number is going up.
“We need better, earlier, more consistent reporting on these crises,” Ms Thomas-Greenfield said on Thursday during a meeting of the Security Council, of which the US holds the rotating presidency this month.
“We need to ensure the Secretary General [Antonio Guterres] has the mandate and the tools to bring these emerging conflicts and potential starvation into the spotlight.”
Ms Thomas-Greenfield, a veteran US diplomat who has witnessed famine and other crises during postings in Africa, said the UN's top body must also "analyse and identify who is responsible for hunger" and take action against them.
“After all, acute hunger is the callous weapon of warmongers,” she said.
“It is caused by people with names and faces, and the people who suffer at their hands deserve justice.”
The UN council met against a backdrop of worsening hunger crises across Africa’s Sahel, the Horn of Africa, South Sudan and Afghanistan. More than 30 million people globally are “one step away” from famine, the UN says.
Conditions are worse still in parts of Yemen, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, where famine or famine-like conditions exist and more than 150,000 people are at risk of starving to death, the world body says.
This has all been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic that has infected more than 118 million people, killed more than 2.6 million others and caused widespread job losses and destroyed economies, Mr Guterres told the council.
“Ending hunger requires us to find political solutions to conflict. I urge all states to make ending conflict, not simply mitigating its impact, a key foreign policy priority,” said Mr Guterres.
“There is no place for famine and starvation in the 21st century.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
