The war in Ukraine is set to take centre stage when the UN General Assembly meets in New York this week for its 77th session.
Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of grain and fertiliser, which have been massively stripped back due to the war.
Grain supply shortages coupled with the impacts of climate change, including severe droughts, have pushed countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Yemen into acute food shortages and to the brink of starvation.
A broad coalition of Australia's leading aid and development organisations is calling for the government to announce a $150 million emergency famine package.
Help Fight Famine spokesperson Tim Costello said the package would show Australia won't abandon nations facing starvation.
"With a relatively small investment, we can make a huge difference in saving lives and averting a humanitarian catastrophe like the world has never seen," he said.
"But a failure to act would mean there could be more deaths than from COVID.
"Time has almost run out."
The US will co-host a food and security summit with European and African nations on the sidelines of the UN.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said while Ukraine would feature heavily during the general assembly, it would not be the only matter dealt with.
"Other countries have expressed the concern that ... as we focus on Ukraine, we are not paying attention to what is happening in other crises around the world," she said.
"That is not the case."
Australia will be represented by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Special Envoy for Reconciliation Pat Dodson.
Senator Dodson is accompanying the foreign minister to speak with other nations and their Indigenous representatives about how to achieve a First Nations foreign policy.
"In Australia, we are currently having a conversation about how we bring First Nations perspectives to the forefront of all that we do and this includes foreign and trade policy," Senator Dodson said.
"First Nations experiences and practices can enrich our diplomacy and strengthen our relationships with other countries, including in the Indo-Pacific region."
The assembly will run until September 24.
with Reuters
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