1068. Conflict-induced Acute Food Crises

Today, conflicts in multiple parts of the world are leading to hunger and severe food crises. In addition to national vulnerabilities, multiple factors such as conflicts, extreme weather events, climate change, and tensions caused by economic shocks are structurally intertwined behind these crises. The disruption of supply chains for grain and agricultural inputs due to the conflicts (including the Russia-Ukraine war) has rippled around the world, particularly affecting countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where food security is uncertain.

On July 17, the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN) said 282 million people in 59 countries are facing severe food crises and called for urgent policy intervention to address life-threatening issues.

In 2023, the food crisis escalated, with 24 million more people facing an urgent food security crisis compared to the previous year. This includes the equivalent of 135 million people in the following 20 countries – Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and Sudan – who have experienced food crises due to wars and protracted conflicts.

The HLPE-FSN highlighted that first, all parties involved in the conflict should ensure that people have access to adequate food under an appropriate legal framework, even in the event of an emergency food crisis. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid also plays an important role in situations where the state is unable to meet the basic needs of its citizens. The international community should then promote the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to avoid conflict-related hunger and contribute to building long-term sustainable and equitable food systems.

Reference
HLPE. 2024. Conflict-induced acute food crises: potential policy responses in light of current emergencies. Rome, CFS HLPE‑FSN
https://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/insights/news-insights/news-detail/new-issues-paper--conflict-induced-acute-food-crises--potential-policy-responses-in-light-of-current-emergencies/en

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program