Recent analysis reveals that hunger is being increasingly weaponised in various global conflicts, with over 20,000 instances of food-related violence documented since 2018. This alarming trend highlights the deliberate targeting of food supplies, markets, and distribution systems that are vital for civilian survival.
A Growing Crisis
The statistics are stark. Research by Insecurity Insight has recorded a staggering 21,403 incidents across 15 countries where food supplies have been intentionally attacked following the adoption of UN resolution 2417. This resolution, passed unanimously in 2018, condemns the deliberate starvation of civilians in conflict zones. Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story, with ongoing assaults on food resources becoming a grim tactic of warfare.
Particularly affected areas include Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, and Haiti, where the fabric of food security is relentlessly torn apart. In Gaza alone, there have been 9,013 attacks aimed at food supply chains, making it the most impacted region. The situation in Sudan is equally dire, having recorded 1,605 incidents, including a recent drone strike on a market that tragically claimed 28 lives.
The Human Cost of Conflict
As conflicts rage on, the consequences for civilians are devastating. The analysis indicates that between October 2023 and the end of 2025, over 10,300 individuals were either killed or injured while attempting to access food aid. Giulia Contò, conflict and hunger advocacy manager at Action Against Hunger, underscores the extent of the crisis: “Famine in Gaza and Sudan has captured global headlines over the past two years, but most conflict-induced hunger never does. It unfolds daily, with relentless attacks on the systems communities depend on to survive.”
The targeting of markets, farmland, and food distribution systems is not merely a statistic; it represents a profound violation of human rights and the right to food. Civilians, particularly women, are often forced into perilous situations to secure basic sustenance. Christina Wille, director at Insecurity Insight, emphasized that women face unique challenges, having to become primary providers while often sacrificing their own nutrition for their families.
Global Patterns of Food-Related Violence
The analysis documents a significant rise in attacks on food-related infrastructure, with 1,261 strikes on markets and 863 incidents targeting food distribution efforts. Notably, Syria and Mali also feature prominently in the report, with 1,538 and 1,415 incidents recorded, respectively. These attacks disrupt not only immediate access to food but also long-term agricultural resilience, jeopardising food security for millions.
The report coincides with the anniversary of UN resolution 2417, and researchers stress the need for the international community to enforce the resolution’s principles. Wille pointed out, “It is not that resolution 2417 has failed, but that member states have failed to implement it, and to demonstrate the political will to prevent those very same actions that the international community claims to oppose.”
Why it Matters
The weaponisation of hunger poses a profound threat to global peace and stability. As conflicts continue to escalate, the deliberate targeting of food supplies underlines a disturbing trend that not only endangers lives but also undermines the basic human right to sustenance. In a world where two-thirds of people facing acute food insecurity reside in just ten conflict-affected nations, the urgency for action has never been more critical. The international community must rise to the occasion, not merely as a response to humanitarian crises but as a commitment to uphold fundamental human rights for all.
