Violent Conflict Drives World Hunger and Food Insecurity

Authors

E. Wesley F. Peterson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

6-5-2024

Document Type

Article

Citation

Cornhusker Economics (June 5, 2024)

Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

The World Food Program (WFP) with support from the United States and other countries works to provide food to those in need as a result of conflict, adverse climate effects, poverty, and government mismanagement. It is limited in what it can do, however, by budget constraints and rising food prices. On top of the financial issues, the delivery of food assistance is particularly complicated in areas of conflict where warring adversaries often hijack food supplies intended for the other side. While it is illegal under International Humanitarian Law to use starvation as a weapon of war, Dzerowicz (2023) has identified extensive violations of international agreements on the delivery of humanitarian food aid by both governments and non-state actors. The appalling conditions in conflict zones are a primary factor in increased international migration itself a cause of geopolitical instability and further human suffering. Support for the WFP and other humanitarian agencies is critical for alleviating the hunger and food insecurity driven by the global scourges of war and armed conflict.