Highlighting the horrors and risks of the war in Ukraine, the UN human rights chief on Monday warned of global food, fuel, and financial crises that risk plunging millions into food insecurity and poverty.

Speaking at the opening session of the 50th Human Rights Council, Michele Bachelet said: "The war in Ukraine continues to destroy the lives of many, causing havoc and destruction.

"The horrors inflicted on the civilian population will leave their indelible mark, including on generations to come."

She said that the war's social, economic, and political ramifications ripple across the region around Ukraine and globally, "with no end in sight."

Bachelet said that 1.2 billion people live in countries severely exposed and vulnerable to all three dimensions of finance, food, and energy, simultaneously.

"The World Food Program estimates that the number of severely food insecure people is expected to grow from 276 million at the start of 2022 to 323 million," said the rights chief.

She cited the UN Global Crisis and Response Group, saying the combination of higher food and energy prices, growing inflation, export restrictions, and tightening financial conditions will be devastating, particularly for the most vulnerable.

"Inequalities between and within countries are skyrocketing, threatening COVID-19 recoveries, undermining progress in the implementation of the SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals) and slowing down climate action," said Bachelet.

"In the face of these multiple and intersecting challenges and rising global tensions, many people I meet are questioning their own futures, the future of their societies, and of our globe."/agencies