UNGA79: To end hunger we need peace, say WFP chiefs

Palestine: WFP Country Director Antoine Renard 

Almost a year of war in Gaza, and the devastation continues to deepen. Millions of Palestinians have been displaced, torn from their homes, separated from their families and close ones, and stripped of their livelihoods. The scale of destruction has turned the Strip into a landscape of ruins.

Today, Palestinians in Gaza find themselves with no real refuge.  With each evacuation, our partners are forced to relocate hot meal kitchens and food distribution points to new locations. As of 16 September, more than 55 evacuation orders remain in effect, covering about 86 per cent of Gaza. Despite the constraints, WFP has reached more than 540,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank in September, including 363,000 people in Gaza with reduced rations. 

There’s only constant fear, surrounded by threats from air, land and sea, while disease and hunger loom ever closer. Yet, how people cling to hope amid constant despair is a tragic masterclass in survival. 

For many Palestinians, a ceasefire is the first step toward just staying alive, allowing them to start rebuilding and reclaiming their lives. In time, livelihoods would be re-established. 

For now their neighbourhoods are reduced to rubble as people in makeshift tents struggle to keep rain at bay. 
Of course, a ceasefire should be more than a momentary reprieve. For humanitarian agencies to have the leeway to offer more than just an emergency lifeline, it must be sustained.

For now, the contagion of conflict is apparent. WFP estimates that the escalation of violence and spillover effect of the war in Gaza could push at least 600,000 people into food insecurity in the West Bank compared to 352,000 people at the start of 2023, 

Perhaps it's worth reminding ourselves of a profound truth: peace, once ignited, can be even more contagious. It is the only sustainable solution. As part of the humanitarian community, WFP will continue to stand with Palestinian civilians, providing critical support for as long as needed. At the same time, we continue to hope for lasting peace in Palestine, Israel and the wider region.

Sudan: WFP Country Director Eddie Rowe

The conflict in Sudan has been raging for more than 500 gruesome days, resulting in one of the world's biggest hunger and displacement crises. 

Famine has been confirmed in parts of North Darfur. Over 2 million people have fled across borders into neighbouring Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan – fleeing both hunger and violence. 

Since 15 April 2023, the start of the war, WFP has provided emergency food and nutrition supplies to nearly 9 million people. This includes monthly emergency food packages, treatment of malnutrition among children, and take-home meals for out-of-school children. 

The scale of this hunger catastrophe is staggering – it has hit 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population. WFP is working around the clock to rapidly scale up life-saving aid and prevent famine from spreading. But with a cessation of hostilities, especially in places like El Fasher or Khartoum, where people are at risk of famine, we could do this so much faster. At present, getting aid in is extremely dangerous amid ongoing air strikes and shelling. 

The millions of people bearing the brunt of the ongoing war are hanging on to their last threads of hope. They need peace so they can return to their homes and lives, and the country can start rebuilding. A sustainable peace is the only solution to prevent Sudan’s hunger crisis from spiralling into a far-reaching catastrophe that embroils the whole region.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: WFP Country Director Peter Musoko

In DRC's troubled eastern provinces, the World Food Programme's work is guided by a steadfast belief in peace and the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. We are confident that the day will come when the warring parties choose unity over conflict, and the people will reclaim their right to live in peace, free from fear. 

Thanks to a ceasefire brokered by the Angolan presidency as part of the Luanda Process, we have reached even more families isolated by the conflict. (The July 2022 accord brought Angola, DRC and Rwanda together to sign a roadmap for peace in eastern DRC.)

While the challenges have been immense, these efforts have brought new hope to communities that have endured so much. 

In 2024, WFP has already made significant strides, reaching 3.5 million people with an ambitious target to assist 7.1 million by year’s end. We’ve fine-tuned our approach to focus on the most vulnerable, especially those displaced by the conflict, ensuring our efforts have the most significant possible impact.

Despite the additional challenges posed by the recent Mpox cases in camps around North Kivu, we are undeterred. Our teams are tackling these obstacles head-on, delivering vital support while prioritizing the safety of those on the frontlines. Every hurdle is an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and find new ways to serve those in need.

The resilience of women – who face singular challenges alongside lack of food, water and safety – is a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of the Congolese people.

I am inspired by the women in Lwashi – a newly established IDP camp, close to Goma – who've fled the ongoing conflict in Sake in North Kivu.

Far from giving in to despair, they are embracing new opportunities through a cooperative, supported by WFP, learning skills such as basket-weaving and book-keeping.

Their dedication shows that while the challenges are great, so is the potential for transformation.

Learn more about WFP's work in DRC, Palestine and Sudan