Emphasizing the urgent global crisis of hunger exacerbated by conflict, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib delivered a speech at the United Nations side event "Hunger in the Crossfire" on 22 September 2025 in New York. Lahbib's address highlighted the devastating rise in acute food insecurity, implicating conflict and insecurity as the primary drivers, with particular focus on regions such as Gaza, Sudan, the DRC, the Sahel, and Haiti.
Context and Campaign Lahbib began with a poignant anecdote about an art exhibition in Brussels featuring works by Gazan artist Ahmed Muhanna, who paints on WFP food aid boxes—a symbolic representation of survival and hope amidst crisis. She underscored that nearly 300 million people currently face acute hunger, with two famines active simultaneously for the first time since 2004 in Sudan and Gaza. Hunger, she argued, is increasingly used as a weapon of war, contravening UN Security Council Resolution 2417.
Concrete Proposals and Policy Orientation Commissioner Lahbib's speech laid out concrete EU commitments: boosting advocacy for international humanitarian law and increased humanitarian diplomacy, supporting a pilot project with Action Against Hunger to track violations of conflict-driven hunger, and concretely financial commitments including a €720 million allocation to hunger crises – an increase of 7.5% over the previous year. Her proposals call for not only continued but expanded EU roles in monitoring, reporting, and financing humanitarian responses.
Political Cleavages and Stakeholder Impacts This stance signals an increase in EU powers and oversight in crisis zones, particularly regarding enforcement and tracking of violations against Resolution 2417, potentially stirring tension with national sovereignties in affected countries. It also highlights a prioritization of humanitarian obligations over concerns about state sovereignty or the possible administrative burden on EU humanitarian agencies. For NGOs and humanitarian organizations, Lahbib’s plans offer enhanced support and resources but may increase reporting obligations. The commission's budgetary increase positively affects EU taxpayers committed to humanitarian aid, while conflict-impacted civilian populations stand to benefit materially from increased aid and protections. Conversely, parties involved in conflicts enforcing hunger as a tactic may face increased diplomatic pressure and scrutiny.
Overall, Lahbib's speech delineates a clear policy orientation toward strengthening the EU’s role in both advocacy and practical aid delivery to address conflict-driven hunger, with concrete numerical targets on funding and new institutional monitoring mechanisms. This approach strikes a balance by advancing humanitarian goals while navigating complex power dynamics between international law enforcement and national sovereignty.
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