During a recent United Nations press briefing, key discussions focused on the rising global food prices and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that the benchmark for world food commodity prices increased by 0.5% in November, reaching its highest level since April 2023. This rise was largely driven by a significant surge in international vegetable oil prices, which saw a 7.5% increase from October. This marks the second-largest increase in two months and is 32% higher than the same time last year.

In addition to food prices, the briefing highlighted the situation in Syria, where the number of displaced people has reached alarming levels. There was some confusion regarding the exact figures, with one official stating that 370,000 people have been displaced since the escalation of violence on November 27. However, colleagues in Geneva reported a lower figure of 280,000. This discrepancy indicates the need for further verification of the data.

The discussions also touched on the challenges facing the aviation sector, particularly in relation to climate change. The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of innovation and investment in addressing the sector's carbon emissions, which account for about 2% of global CO2 emissions.

Overall, the meeting underscored pressing global issues, including food security and humanitarian crises, while also addressing the need for sustainable practices in aviation.