GCC states express concern at Gaza’s worsening food situation
THE Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have expressed their deep concern over the worsening food insecurity situation as a result of the Israeli attacks and the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip.
This came in a statement delivered by HE Dr Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, on behalf of the GCC countries as the head of the GCC Group.
The statement was made during an interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on measures to reduce the negative impact of climate change on the full enjoyment of the right to food, at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.
Regarding the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the GCC countries expressed regret at the worsening global food security situation exacerbated by the climate change, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups and threatens the resilience of food systems.
The GCC countries pointed out that the Israeli occupation, alongside massacres and acts of genocide, has deliberately engaged in the destruction of agricultural lands, burning crops, and the depletion of marine life.
Israeli airstrikes have also destroyed sewage networks, leading to the contamination of groundwater, surface water, and agricultural land, in environmental crimes that make life in Palestinian territories almost impossible.
The GCC countries called for the strengthening and promotion of scientific innovations that enhance sustainable productivity and agricultural production.
They also called for efforts to enhance the resilience of ecosystems and improve livelihoods in the face of climate change, emphasizing the need for concerted international efforts to strengthen social protection systems and build sustainable practices.
The GCC countries reaffirmed their commitment to the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.