Last week, I represented the World Bank Group at the United Nations Security Council on the famine response in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

In these four countries, more than 20 million people face famine or the risk of famine over the coming six months, and urgent action is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

The Security Council may appear to be an unusual place to find a development institution such as the World Bank, especially regarding a humanitarian crisis like famine.

In fact, famine can also hinder development progress by doing long-term damage to the health, learning ability, and earning capacity of all people involved, especially children.

In addition, conflict is a proximate cause of famine in these countries, and preventing violent conflict and addressing the drivers of fragility is at the heart of the UN and World Bank’s shared agenda.

The Security Council meeting provided an important opportunity.