United Nations S/RES/2417 (2018)

Security Council Distr.: General

24 May 2018

Resolution 2417 (2018)

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8267th meeting, on
24 May 2018

The Security Council,

Recalling all relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1296
(2000), 1894 (2009), 2175 (2014), and 2286 (2016) and its Presidential Statement of
9 August 2017 (S/PRST/2017/14),
Deeply concerned about the level of global humanitarian needs and the threat of
famine presently facing millions of people in armed conflicts, as well as about the
number of undernourished people in the world which, after decades of decreasing,
increased over the last two years, with the majority of food insecure people and
seventy-five percent of all stunted children under the age of five living in countries
affected by armed conflict, amounting to 74 million people facing crisis food
insecurity or worse in situations of armed conflict,
Noting the devastating impact on civilians of ongoing armed conflict and related
violence, and emphasising with deep concern that ongoing armed conflicts and
violence have devastating humanitarian consequences, often hindering an effective
humanitarian response, and are therefore a major cause of the current risk of famine,
Expressing concern over the growing number of armed conflicts in different
geographic areas all over the globe, and underlining the urgent need for redoubled
efforts for their prevention and resolution, addressing where pertinent the regional
dimensions of armed conflicts with specific emp hasis on regional diplomacy and
arrangements,
Reiterating its commitment to pursue all possible avenues to prevent and end
armed conflicts, including through addressing their underlying root causes in an
inclusive, integrated and sustainable manner,
Recognising the need to break the vicious cycle between armed conflict and
food insecurity,
Reiterating its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security and, in this connection, its commitment to address conflict -induced food
insecurity, including famine, in situations of armed conflict,
Reaffirming the full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States
in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,

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Recognising that armed conflict impacts on food security can be direct, such as
displacement from land, livestock grazing areas, and fishing grounds or destruction
of food stocks and agricultural assets, or indirect, such as disruptions to food systems
and markets, leading to increased food prices or decreased household purchasing
power, or decreased access to supplies that are necessary for food preparation,
including water and fuel,
Noting with deep concern the serious humanitarian threat, posed to civilians by
landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices in affected
countries, which has serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the
populations of such countries and their agricultural activities, as well as of personnel
participating in law enforcement, humanitarian, peacekeeping, rehabilitation and
clearance programmes and operations,
Stressing the particular impact that armed conflict has on women, children,
including as refugees and internally displaced persons, and other civilians who may
have specific vulnerabilities including persons with disabilities and older persons, and
stressing the protection and assistance needs of all affected civilian populations,
Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of
conflicts and in peacebuilding, and stressing the importance of their equal
participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of
peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision -making with regard
to conflict prevention and resolution,
Recalling the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of
1977, and the obligation of High Contracting Parties and parties to armed conflict to
respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstance s,
Underlining that using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare may
constitute a war crime,
Stressing that responding effectively to humanitarian needs in armed conflict,
including the threat of conflict-induced famine and food insecurity in situations of
armed conflict, requires respect for international humanitarian law by all parties to
conflict, underlining the parties’ obligations related to protecting civilians and
civilian objects, meeting the basic needs of the civilian population withi n their
territory or under their effective control, and allowing and facilitating the rapid and
unimpeded passage of impartial humanitarian relief to all those in need,
Recalling its intention to mandate United Nations peacekeeping and other
relevant missions, where appropriate, to assist in creating conditions conducive to
safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian assistance,
Demanding that all parties to armed conflicts fully comply with their obligations
under international law, including international human rights law, as applicable, and
international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional
Protocols thereto of 1977 and 2005, to ensure the respect and protection of all medical
personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their
means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities,
Reaffirming the obligation of all parties to an armed conflict to comply with
international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional
Protocols thereto of 1977, to ensure the respect and protection of all hu manitarian
personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, as well as with the rules and
principles of international human rights law and refugee law,

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Reaffirming the need for all parties to armed conflict to respect the humanitarian
principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the provision of
humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, and reaffirming also the need
for all actors engaged in the provision of such assistance in situations of armed
conflict to promote and fully adhere to these principles,
Stressing that the fight against impunity and to ensure accountability for
genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other egregious crimes has been
strengthened through the work on and prosecution of these crimes in the national and
international criminal justice system, ad hoc and mixed tribunals as well as
specialized chambers in national tribunals,
Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to protect the population
throughout their whole territory,
1. Recalls the link between armed conflict and violence and conflict-induced
food insecurity and the threat of famine, and calls on all parties to armed conflict to
comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law regarding
respecting and protecting civilians and taking constant care to spare civilian objects,
including objects necessary for food production and distribution such as farms,
markets, water systems, mills, food processing and storage sites, and hubs and means
for food transportation, and refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or
rendering useless objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian
population, such as foodstuffs, crops, livestock, agricultural assets, drinking water
installations and supplies, and irrigation works, and respecting and protecting
humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations;
2. Stresses in this regard that armed conflict, violations of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law, and food insecurity can be
drivers of forced displacement, and, conversely, forced displacement in countries in
armed conflict can have a devastating impact on agricultural production and
livelihoods, recalls the relevant prohibition on the forced displacement of civilians in
armed conflict, and stresses the importance of fully complying with international
humanitarian law and other applicable international law in this context;
3. Stresses the need for humanitarian assistance to be gender- and age-
sensitive, and to remain responsive to the different needs of the population, ensuring
that these needs are integrated in the humanitarian response;
4. Calls on all parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations
under international humanitarian law, and underlines the importance of safe and
unimpeded access of humanitarian personnel to civilians in armed conflicts, calls
upon all parties concerned, including neighbouring States, to cooperate fully with the
United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and United Nations agencies in providing
such access, invites States and the Secretary-General to bring to its attention
information regarding the unlawful denial of such access in violation of international
law, where such denial may constitute a threat to international peace and security,
and, in this regard, expresses its willingness to consider such information and, when
necessary, to adopt appropriate steps;
5. Strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare
in a number of conflict situations and prohibited by international humanitarian law;
6. Strongly condemns the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and
depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully
impeding relief supply and access for responses to conflict -induced food insecurity
in situations of armed conflict, which may constitute a violation of international
humanitarian law;

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7. Urges all parties to protect civilian infrastructure which is critical to the

delivery of humanitarian aid and to ensure the proper functioning of food systems and
markets in situations of armed conflict;
8. Urges those with influence over parties to armed conflict to remind the
latter of their obligation to comply with international humanitarian law;
9. Recalls that the Council has adopted and can consider to adopt sanction
measures, where appropriate and in line with existing practice, that can be ap plied to
individuals or entities obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance, or access
to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance;
10. Strongly urges States to conduct, in an independent manner, full, prompt,
impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdiction into violations of
international humanitarian law related to the use of starvation of civilians as a method
of warfare, including the unlawful denial of humanitarian assistance to the civilian
population in armed conflict, and, where appropriate, to take action against those
responsible in accordance with domestic and international law, with a view to
reinforcing preventive measures, ensuring accountability and addressing the
grievances of victims;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide information on the
humanitarian situation and response, including on the risk of famine and food
insecurity in countries with armed conflict, as part of his regular reporting on country -
specific situations;
12. Further requests the Secretary-General to report swiftly to the Council
when the risk of conflict-induced famine and wide-spread food insecurity in armed
conflict contexts occurs, and expresses its intention to give its full attention to such
information provided by the Secretary-General when those situations are brought to
its attention;
13. Further requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council every
twelve months on the implementation of this resolution within his annual briefing on
the protection of civilians.

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