Between 7,000 to 21,000 people are likely dying each day from hunger in conflict-affected countries. This is according to a new Oxfam report published on World Food Day. The report, titled Food Wars, highlights the devastating link between conflict and acute hunger, with 281.6 million people facing severe food shortages in 54 conflict-affected nations.
CONFLICT: A PRIMARY DRIVER OF HUNGER AND DISPLACEMENT
The report stresses that conflict is not only driving hunger but that food is being weaponized by warring parties. Food, water, and energy infrastructure are being deliberately targeted, and food aid is being blocked, turning starvation into a deadly tool of war. Oxfam’s Food and Economic Security Lead, Emily Farr, underscores the grave consequences of these actions: “That civilians continue to be subjected to such slow death in the 21st century is a collective failure.”
FOOD CRISES MANUFACTURED BY WAR
The report points to several conflict zones where food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels. In Gaza, 83% of the population relies on food aid. However, the majority of this aid is not reaching those in need. Similarly, over 750,000 people in Sudan are currently starving. The conflict disrupts food supply chains. This threatens to leave a lasting impact for generations.
NATURAL RESOURCE-RICH COUNTRIES HIT HARDEST
Among the 54 countries studied, 34 are rich in natural resources, with economies heavily reliant on exporting raw materials. For instance, Sudan derives 95% of its export earnings from gold and livestock. South Sudan depends on petroleum products. Burundi relies on coffee exports. Oxfam warns that reliance on raw commodities often increases violence. It also boosts inequality and instability. This perpetuates a cycle of conflict and hunger.
MINING OPERATIONS AND CONFLICT IN CENTRAL AMERICA
In Central America, mining operations have spurred violent conflicts, displacing communities who can no longer live in degraded environments. This situation shows that extracting natural resources can worsen existing tensions. It leaves people even more vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION FUELS INEQUALITY AND CONFLICT
Oxfam argues that peacebuilding efforts focus on economic liberalization and foreign investment. These efforts are exacerbating inequalities. They are not resolving the root causes of conflict. “Large-scale private investment often leads to more instability. Investors seize control over land and water resources, which forces people out of their homes,” says Farr.
CLIMATE SHOCKS AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY WORSEN HUNGER CRISES
The report also highlights how conflict interacts with other factors. These include climate change, economic instability, and rising food prices. These interactions devastate livelihoods. In East and Southern Africa, for example, climate shocks like droughts and floods have driven hunger to unprecedented levels. Pandemic-related disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine war have compounded this issue.
DISPLACEMENT AND THE HUMAN TOLL
The humanitarian cost of conflict is immense, with millions displaced from their homes. Aisha Ibrahim is a 37-year-old Sudanese mother. She walked for four days with her four children to escape conflict. She had to leave her husband behind. “I used to live in a proper home. I could never imagine myself in this situation,” she told Oxfam.
GLOBAL LEADERS URGED TO END “STARVATION CRIMES”
Oxfam is calling on the international community to hold accountable those committing “starvation crimes” by targeting food as a weapon. The UN’s pledge of “zero hunger” by 2030 is at risk unless drastic changes are made.
Oxfam urges global leaders to address the underlying causes of conflict. This is essential to break the vicious cycle of food insecurity and conflict. These causes include colonial legacies, human rights violations, and deep-rooted inequalities. “Quick fixes like foreign investment alone will not resolve conflicts,” Farr asserts. “Peacebuilding must involve investment in social protection and the creation of sustainable food systems.”
