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In a stark revelation of current global conflicts, new analysis demonstrates that hunger is increasingly being weaponised, with over 20,000 recorded incidents of food-related violence between 2018 and 2026. This alarming trend underscores the cruel reality faced by civilians in war-torn regions, where food supply systems are deliberately targeted, exacerbating humanitarian crises in countries such as Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen.
Weaponisation of Hunger
Since the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2417 in 2018, which condemned the intentional starvation of civilians as a tactic of warfare, the situation has only worsened. The report by Insecurity Insight reveals a staggering 21,403 incidents across 15 nations where food supplies have been directly attacked. This includes 1,261 assaults on markets, vital for daily sustenance, and 863 strikes on food distribution networks, resulting in the deaths of humanitarian workers.
The data highlights a troubling pattern: military forces are increasingly targeting agricultural infrastructure. In total, 1,909 military strikes were recorded on farmland, alongside 563 attacks on water systems crucial for crop production. Such actions have not only devastated local food security but have also affected over 42 countries and territories.
Regions Most Affected
The occupied Palestinian Territories have faced the highest number of attacks, with 9,013 incidents reported. Following closely are Yemen, with 1,863 attacks, and Sudan, where 1,605 food-related strikes have been documented. A recent drone strike in Sudan’s Ghubaysh market tragically claimed 28 lives, illustrating the devastating impact of these assaults on civilian populations.
Syria and Mali are also notable examples of regions where food supplies have been frequently targeted. In Syria, 1,538 incidents have been attributed largely to government forces and their allies, while the ruling junta in Mali has struggled to maintain control amidst 1,415 recorded attacks on food systems.
Human Cost of Conflict
The human toll of these attacks is staggering. Between October 2023 and the end of 2025, over 10,300 individuals were either killed or injured while attempting to procure food. Giulia Contò, conflict and hunger advocacy manager at Action Against Hunger, emphasised the relentless nature of the crises unfolding in conflict zones: “Famine in Gaza and Sudan has captured global headlines over the past two years, but most conflict-induced hunger never does.”
Women are particularly hard hit by the weaponisation of hunger. They often face the harshest dilemmas, such as travelling longer distances to access food, which increases their vulnerability in unstable environments. Many women, once caregivers, are forced to become the family’s primary breadwinners, often sacrificing their own nutritional needs to ensure their children are fed. This has long-term implications for child development, as inadequate nutrition affects their ability to learn and grow.
Urgent Call for Action
Christina Wille, director at Insecurity Insight, has called upon the international community to act decisively in enforcing UN Resolution 2417. She asserted that while the resolution itself has not failed, the lack of political will among member states to implement its directives has led to ongoing violations.
The UN has warned that the intersection of conflict and hunger is becoming entrenched in a select group of nations, with two-thirds of people facing acute food insecurity concentrated in just ten conflict-affected countries. The intertwining of conflict and hunger continues to deepen, necessitating urgent and concerted action from the international community to protect vulnerable populations.
Why it Matters
The weaponisation of hunger in conflict zones is not merely a humanitarian issue; it represents a profound breach of human rights that could have far-reaching implications for global stability and security. As food supplies are intentionally disrupted, the resultant humanitarian crises threaten to destabilise entire regions, leading to mass displacement and further violence. The international community must take a united stance to address these violations, ensuring that the basic human right to food is upheld for all, regardless of the circumstances.
