As the world grapples with the devastating impact of conflict, a disturbing trend emerges—hunger is increasingly wielded as a weapon of war. Recent analysis has revealed over 20,000 recorded incidents of “food-related violence” since 2018, highlighting the brutal targeting of markets, farmland, and food distribution systems across the globe. The findings paint a grim picture of how starvation tactics are being weaponised, with dire consequences for civilian populations in conflict zones.
A Grim Inventory of Violence
According to research by Insecurity Insight, a staggering 21,403 incidents of violence against food supplies have been documented across 15 countries in the past eight years. This includes 1,261 attacks on markets where families procure their daily essentials and 863 assaults on distribution points that have resulted in the deaths of aid workers. The analysis coincides with the anniversary of UN resolution 2417, which condemned the deliberate starvation of civilians as a tactic of warfare.
The statistics illustrate a relentless assault on food security, with military strikes recorded on farmland numbering 1,909 and further 563 attacks on critical water infrastructure necessary for agricultural production. The impact of these assaults has reverberated across more than 42 nations and territories, leaving countless families at the mercy of hunger.
Regions Under Siege
The occupied Palestinian territories bear the brunt of these brutal tactics, with 9,013 reported incidents, followed by Yemen with 1,863 and Sudan at 1,605. In a harrowing incident last week, a drone strike on a busy market in West Kordofan, Sudan, left 28 civilians dead, underscoring the perilous conditions faced by those merely seeking sustenance.
In Syria, the situation is no less dire, with 1,538 attacks attributed largely to government and allied forces. Mali, too, has seen 1,415 incidents as the ruling junta faces escalating challenges to its authority. The escalation in attacks on food systems reveals a troubling pattern—one that not only threatens immediate survival but also undermines the long-term stability of these regions.
The Human Cost
The analysis also highlights the grim reality for civilians, particularly women, who are disproportionately affected by food-related violence. Giulia Contò, a conflict and hunger advocacy manager at Action Against Hunger, states: “Famine in Gaza and Sudan has captured global headlines over the past two years, but most conflict-induced hunger never does.” Women are often forced into the role of breadwinners, risking their safety by travelling greater distances for food while sacrificing their own nutrition to ensure their families survive.
From October 2023 to the end of 2025, more than 10,300 individuals were killed or injured while attempting to access aid. These figures illustrate a chilling truth: in conflict zones, the quest for food can be as perilous as the violence of war itself.
The Need for Action
Christina Wille, director at Insecurity Insight, has called for the international community to honour UN resolution 2417, urging member states to demonstrate the political will necessary to combat these violations. She emphasises that the failure lies not in the resolution itself but in the lack of action to uphold it.
As global hunger becomes increasingly entrenched in conflict-ridden areas, the responsibility to address these violations weighs heavily on the international community. The growing trend of using hunger as a weapon of war raises urgent questions about our collective moral obligations.
Why it Matters
The weaponisation of hunger represents a profound violation of human rights, with lasting implications for the stability of nations and the well-being of their citizens. As conflicts rage on, the deliberate targeting of food supplies not only exacerbates immediate humanitarian crises but also sows the seeds of future instability. Addressing this issue is not just a question of charity; it is a matter of global security and moral responsibility. The time for action is now, lest we allow hunger to become a standard tool of warfare, further entrenching suffering in the heart of humanity.