UN Warns Conflict-Driven Hunger Is Becoming a Weapon of War Across Multiple Regions
UN Warns Conflict-Driven Hunger Is Becoming a Weapon of War Across Multiple Regions
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Senior United Nations officials warned the Security Council on Monday that escalating violence in global conflict zones is fueling severe food insecurity, leaving millions at risk of starvation and undermining peace and stability.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed described how war and hunger are intertwined, noting that “food itself has become a weapon.” According to Anadolu Agency, she explained that armed conflict destroys agricultural fields, disrupts markets, and severs supply chains, while hunger in turn drives displacement, desperation, and further violence. Citing global data, Mohammed highlighted that armed conflict now drives acute food insecurity in 14 of 16 hunger hotspots worldwide. Last year, 295 million people faced acute hunger, with 1.9 million experiencing catastrophic levels, more than double the previous year. She warned that regions such as Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain trapped in a vicious cycle of hunger and conflict (UN).
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya echoed the warnings, emphasizing the human toll on civilians. “Hunger is exposing people to greater risks of sexual exploitation, abuse, and forced displacement,” she said, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women who often forgo food to feed their families. Msuya stressed that under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited. She detailed operational challenges, including restricted border crossings, delayed aid convoys, and bureaucratic impediments that continue to limit humanitarian assistance in Gaza and inaccessible areas of Sudan, where more than 21 million people face acute food insecurity (UN).
Mohammed and Msuya urged the council to act decisively, combining humanitarian aid, political engagement, and accountability measures to prevent hunger from becoming an enduring tool of war.
