Rome, June 29, 2020
Thank you Mr. President,
Mr. Executive Director:
Distinguished Members of the Board:
Cuba as a member of WFP Executive Board, expresses its will and commitment to support the work of this agency of theUnited Nations whose dual mandate, humanitarian and development, is vital for a world free from the scourge of hunger and malnutrition.
We commend the efforts of WFP and its staff on the field, often in very difficult conditions. As an agency part of the United Nations System, WFP is reputed to be on the side of the neediest, providing food assistance in emergencies, conflicts and natural disasters, also strengthening capacities for development.
As you mentioned, WFP has been fighting complex humanitarian battles on several fronts since the beginning of 2020, in a circumstance of exceptional complexity as a result of the impact of the COVID19 pandemic.
COVID19 is not only a global health crisis that has caused loss of human life, but also severe damage to much of the world economy, although a few economic actors have become much richer at this juncture. Millions of people live in great uncertainty. Everything indicates that misery and food insecurity are gaining ground. To what extent are the effects on food production and trade precise?
We agree with the Executive Director that the panorama is overwhelming, in the face of the socio-economic disaster that affects a considerable part of humanity.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID19 has spread in a scenario previously torn by economic and social inequality between and within countries; in a world weighed down by unsustainable production and consumption patterns and incompatible with the exhaustible condition of the natural resources on which life on the planet depends.
Before the pandemic, there were 820 million of persons affected by hunger in the world, 2.2 billion without potable water services, 4.2 billion without safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion without basic hand washing facilities. The United Nations bodies and agencies had recognized, at the end of 2019, the return to the increase in world hunger in the last two years, that is, the purposes of reaching #ZeroHunger by 2030 will be difficult to reached.
It cannot be accepted that a lack of resources is alleged to solve world hunger, a conflict much more lacerating and deadly at the global level than those caused by the traditional use of the lucrative arms business. World military spending amounts to one trillion 8 billion US dollars.On the other hand, as hunger grows, some 618.7 billion US dollars are used annually in consumer advertising alone.
The virus caused by COVID19 has devastating effects regardless of borders or economic power, but it is clear that it damages more the most vulnerable, those with the least income and least resources are, in the poor, underdeveloped and indebted world, in the labyrinths of poverty.
In these circumstances, special attention is required by Small Island Developing States, affected by climate change and with limited possibilities for food production. Maintaining the food supply chain is essential to ensure food security for all.
The Caribbean requires special and differentiated attention. In addition to the challenge of preserving human life in pandemic conditions, there is the need to reactivate the economies, greatly affected by the international economic crisis, the severe damage caused by COVID19 to one of the pillar sectors of most of its countries, the tourism. And, in addition, burdened by unsustainable burden of external debt and the unjust international financial system that weighs on our nations.
We denounce the coercive economic measures also motivated by political reasons, such as the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba, which causes my country, even in the current situation of world crisis caused by COVID19, extraordinary pressure to guarantee medical supplies and food to the entire population.
It is imperative that hegemonies and selfishness cease. No nation should be superior to another. The world is fragile and faces enormous challenges. Rather than hatred and disrespect for peaceful coexistence between nations, over and above political differences and any other order, the actual practice of solidarity and international cooperation should be encouraged.
Cuba will always be ready to offer its cooperation with the countries that require it. To combat the COVID 19, since March, my country has sent 31 brigades of health professionals to join the national and local effort in more than 30 countries, with 1,932 health professionals, two of them to the own Italy. These medical forces are added to the already existing Cuban medical collaboration in 60 nations.
We will continue to advocate for WFP to continue to contribute to the strengthening of public policies and national priorities in beneficiary countries. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities between developed and developing countries must be preserved.
I reiterate, Cuba will maintain its solidarity vocation unaltered, its high spirit of cooperation with all countries and the defense of multilateralism.
Thank you very much.
