As part of World Food Day, which takes place today, October 16, a new Oxfam report reveals that hunger has reached a record level worldwide, highlighting the deficiencies in global efforts to build peace. and recover from conflicts. Specifically, the data shows that between 7,784 and 21,406 people died every day in 2023 due to hunger in countries affected by conflict.
To prepare this report – titled ‘Food Wars’ – 54 countries in conflict have been examined and it has been discovered that almost all (278 million) of the 281.6 million people currently facing acute hunger reside there. Conflict was identified as the main cause in most of these countries, although other factors such as climate change and economic shocks also played a role. Armed conflicts are also one of the main causes of forced displacement, which has reached a historic level of more than 117 million people around the world, of which 77% resided in countries affected by food crises.
The document argues that not only is conflict a key factor in the hunger crisis, but warring parties are using food as a weapon of war by deliberately attacking food, water and energy infrastructure, as well as blocking food aid.
“In the midst of global conflicts, hunger has become a lethal weapon used by combatants, in violation of international law, causing an alarming increase in deaths and suffering. That civilians continue to be subjected to this slow death in the 21st century is a collective failure,” Emily Farr, Oxfam’s Food and Economic Security Leader, said in a statement.
The five most severely affected countries were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen, all of which experienced active conflict.
“The current food crises are largely created by humans. Almost half a million people in Gaza, where 83% of food aid is not arriving, and more than three quarters of a million in Sudan, are currently suffering from hunger. The devastating impact of food wars will be felt for generations,” adds Farr.
Wars, natural disasters and economic inequality lead to hunger
The report also reveals that the majority of countries studied (34 out of 54) are rich in natural resources and are highly dependent on the export of raw materials, while underlining that countries that are highly dependent on export commodities , such as coffee, cocoa and oil, are at greater risk of being caught in cycles of conflict. For example, 95% of Sudan’s export income comes from gold and livestock, 87% of South Sudan’s income comes from oil, and almost 70% of Burundi’s income comes from coffee. In Central America, mining operations have generated violent conflicts, displacing people from their homes due to environmental degradation and contamination.
Oxfam criticizes that current peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction efforts focus too much on encouraging foreign investment and export-oriented economies. However, this focus on economic liberalization can exacerbate inequality, suffering and the risk of renewed conflict.
“It is no coincidence that the lethal combination of war, displacement and hunger frequently occurs in countries rich in natural resources. The exploitation of these resources often generates more violence, inequality, instability and renewed conflict. Additionally, large private investments, both foreign and domestic, often worsen political and economic instability by seizing land and water resources, displacing people from their homes,” explains Farr.
“The lethal combination of war, displacement and hunger frequently occurs in countries rich in natural resources, whose exploitation often generates more violence, inequality, instability and renewed conflict”
Conflict is often compounded by other factors, such as climate disasters, economic instability and inequalities, devastating people’s livelihoods. Thus, extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, along with economic shocks also played an important role in the global food crisis. Nations such as Somalia and Afghanistan, which were already dealing with prolonged droughts and extreme poverty, were further affected by food price inflation and a lack of agricultural inputs. Added to this was the war between Russia and Ukraine, which disrupted food and fertilizer supply chains, seriously affecting countries dependent on these exports, intensifying hunger crises in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The paper also examines the impact of globalization on food systems, arguing that while global trade can offer opportunities for economic growth, it can also increase inequalities and create conditions for conflict to escalate. In regions such as West Africa and the Horn of Africa, the rise of agricultural production for export has displaced local communities, exacerbating poverty and fueling violence. Additionally, the production of cash crops such as cocoa and soybeans has contributed to illegal deforestation, causing conflicts between farmers and large companies.
Faced with this reality, Oxfam advocates for a more holistic approach, which integrates food security policies with peacebuilding and sustainable development initiatives. The report suggests that adopting the “Triple Nexus” framework, which combines humanitarian assistance, long-term development and peacebuilding, could be key to addressing the roots of these problems. However, it cautions that this approach must be sensitive to local contexts and based on the participation of affected communities, including youth and women.
Further from achieving the goal of ‘zero hunger’
The international community’s commitment to achieving ‘zero hunger’ by 2030 appears increasingly unattainable. Oxfam calls for states and global institutions, including the UN Security Council, to hold those who commit “hunger crimes” accountable under international law.
“To break the vicious cycle of food insecurity and conflict, world leaders must address the root causes of conflict – colonial legacies, injustices, human rights violations and inequalities – rather than offering quick fixes and superficial,” concludes Farr.
The organization also calls for strengthening policies that protect the right to food and guarantee that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it most without being obstructed by parties to the conflict. Oxfam’s recommendations also include promoting more equitable markets, investing in resilient food systems, and implementing development strategies that avoid perpetuating the inequalities that fuel conflict.
“We cannot end conflicts simply by injecting foreign investment into devastated countries, without eradicating the deep inequalities, generational grievances and human rights violations that fuel these conflicts. Peace efforts must be accompanied by investment in social protection and construction of social cohesion. “Economic solutions must prioritize fair trade and sustainable food systems.”
Source: OXFAM International
