A new report by Oxfam, released on World Food Day, warns that most food crises are “largely manufactured” by warring parties who weaponize food and block aid, leading to a record number of people dying from hunger in conflict zones. For this reason, the global commitment to Zero Hunger is under sever threat.
Titled “Food Wars,” the report examines 54 countries experiencing conflict, revealing they account for nearly all of the 281.6 million people facing acute hunger globally. These conflicts have also driven a record 117 million people from their homes.
Oxfam emphasizes that conflict not only fuels hunger but that warring factions are actively using food as a weapon, targeting food, water, and energy infrastructure, and blocking aid. The report cites the “starvation crisis of historic proportions” in Sudan and the record-high food insecurity in Gaza as stark examples of this phenomenon.
“As conflict rages around the world, starvation has become a lethal weapon wielded by warring parties against international laws,” said Emily Farr, Oxfam’s food and economic security expert.
The report analyzes how conflict exacerbates other crises, including climate shocks, economic instability, and inequality, often leading to a vicious cycle of hunger and conflict. The report points to the increased hunger in East and Southern Africa due to climate disasters, rising global food prices, and disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Oxfam warns that the global commitment to “zero hunger” by 2030 is becoming increasingly unrealistic. The organization calls on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to hold accountable those responsible for “starvation crimes.”
To break this cycle, Oxfam urges global leaders to address the root causes of conflict – colonial legacies, injustices, human rights abuses, and inequalities – rather than offering superficial solutions.
Source: Al Jazeera
