Outlet: Arab News

Language: English

Abstract: Conflict-driven hunger has escalated into a calculated and devastating weapon, particularly in regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East. In Gaza, over 2.1 million Palestinians face extreme food insecurity, while Sudan’s unprecedented hunger crisis affects 25.6 million people. These crises are not incidental fallout but deliberate strategies used to subjugate and displace civilian populations. Throughout history, food has been weaponized in conflicts, from the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War to America's grain embargo during the Cold War, and now in modern conflicts like Ukraine, where food blockades and bombings disrupt global supplies and starve millions.

The use of food as a weapon is particularly prominent in proxy conflicts where multiple actors, including middle powers and regional rivals, manipulate food insecurity for strategic advantage. The blockade of Gaza and targeted attacks on Sudan's fertile lands exemplify how food scarcity is enforced to control populations, leading to long-term dependence, displacement, and despair. This intentional starvation not only undermines self-sufficiency but also stifles peace efforts, further complicating conflict resolution. The international community’s failure to effectively respond, coupled with the denial of humanitarian aid, perpetuates these crises, turning food into a powerful tool of war and exacerbating the suffering of millions.

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