UN official voices concern over global repercussions of Ukraine conflict

UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo (C) speaks at a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 24, 2022. DiCarlo on Wednesday voiced concern over the global repercussions of the Ukraine conflict. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Wednesday voiced concern over the global repercussions of the Ukraine conflict.

According to World Food Programme (WFP) estimates, 345 million people will be acutely food insecure or at a high risk of food insecurity in 82 countries with a WFP operational presence. This represents an increase of 47 million acutely hungry people due to the ripple effects of the Ukraine conflict, she told the UN Security Council in a briefing.

Last month, the UN Development Programme estimated that up to 71 million people may have already been pushed into poverty in the three months after the start of the conflict. Key affected areas include the Balkans, the Caspian Sea region and sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Sahel, she said.

The global financial situation remains volatile, with concerns about potential stagflation scenarios in the latter part of 2022 and 2023. Energy markets remain under stress, a serious concern as the winter season in the northern hemisphere approaches, she said.

While food prices have stabilized in recent weeks, this has not necessarily translated to lower inflation rates yet. Inflation continued to accelerate in July 2022. It is breaking multi-decade records in developed countries, and yet it is developing countries and the least developed countries that have been more drastically affected, said DiCarlo.

The fiscal situation in many developing economies is of particular concern as their borrowing ability has been fragile following the need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with significant expenditures. Today, developing country debts and import bills are coming under further pressure, she said.

"We remain concerned that the deteriorating socio-economic situation in developing countries, particularly those in already fragile situations, could lead to social unrest," she warned, noting that there was an increase in the number of riots between the first and second quarter of 2022 although it is difficult to establish a direct link to the Ukraine conflict.

"The conflict is having another impact that, although less tangible, is just as perilous. In deepening global divisions and exacerbating mistrust in our institutions, the conflict is weakening the foundations of the international system," said DiCarlo. "The consequences of a breakdown in how the world manages questions of peace and security are frightening to contemplate. This war is not only senseless, but exceedingly dangerous, and it touches all of us. It must end."