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The disturbing resurgence of famine in several parts of the world, after decades of decline, is alarming. Once believed to be nearly eradicated, famine is reappearing in regions such as Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Gaza. This crisis is now driven less by natural scarcity and more by political strategies, where food is deliberately used as a weapon of war and control.
KEY POINTS
1. Political weaponisation of food
- Authoritarian regimes often restrict access to humanitarian organisations.
- Starvation is increasingly used as a tool of warfare and political dominance.
- In Gaza, prolonged blockades and restrictions have driven civilians into famine-like conditions.
- The withdrawal of USAID in certain regions, due to political and operational challenges, has further reduced the global humanitarian presence.
2. Breakdown of humanitarian response
- Earlier, famine prevention relied on global monitoring systems, early warnings, and timely aid distribution.
- Weakening of international institutions and tighter state control over information have undermined these mechanisms.
- In conflict zones, aid agencies face severe restrictions, leaving vulnerable populations unprotected.
- The absence of USAID further deepens the crisis by limiting food assistance and medical support in fragile contexts.
3. Statistics on famine deaths
- Between 1870 and 1970, famines claimed around 928,000 lives annually.
- From 2000 to 2010, famine-related deaths dropped to about 75,000 per year.
- Recently, the numbers have begun rising again, especially in war-affected regions.
4. Human suffering
- Millions are currently experiencing acute food insecurity.
- Children remain the most vulnerable, with alarming rates of malnutrition, stunting, and mortality.
- Communities with weak resilience collapse rapidly when humanitarian aid is blocked.
5. The role of global governance
- Weak global cooperation and lack of coordinated multilateral action make it difficult to address famine in conflict zones.
- Suppression of information and lack of accountability worsen the humanitarian crisis.
- International law remains ineffective in preventing the use of starvation as a deliberate weapon of war.
SYNOPSIS
Famine, once thought to be in decline, is re-emerging as authoritarian regimes weaponise food scarcity for political and military purposes. The humanitarian systems that once helped prevent mass starvation are weakening due to restricted access, reduced cooperation, and deliberate state actions. The exit of USAID from fragile regions has further eroded aid capacity, leaving millions at risk. Rising famine deaths highlight the urgent need for stronger global governance and accountability. Without collective international action, famine risks becoming a permanent instrument of war and oppression.