Hunger is increasingly being used as a tool of warfare across conflict zones around the world, with thousands of attacks deliberately targeting food systems, markets, farmland and aid distribution networks in recent years, according to a new analysis that highlights an alarming trend in modern warfare. The findings suggest that despite international efforts to prohibit starvation as a tactic of war, food insecurity is becoming deeply intertwined with armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.
The analysis, conducted using data compiled by researchers monitoring conflict-related violence, documented more than 21,000 incidents since 2018 in which food supplies and related infrastructure were intentionally attacked. These incidents include strikes on marketplaces used by civilians, destruction of agricultural land, assaults on food distribution systems and attacks on critical water infrastructure essential for food production.
Researchers noted that the trend gained momentum even after the adoption of a landmark United Nations Security Council resolution in 2018 that condemned the use of starvation against civilians and warned that deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid could amount to a violation of international law. However, evidence gathered over recent years indicates that such measures have done little to prevent the continued targeting of food systems in war zones.
Conflict-hit regions in the Middle East and Africa have emerged among the worst affected. The occupied Palestinian territories recorded the highest number of documented incidents, followed by countries such as Yemen and Sudan. Syria and Mali also witnessed repeated attacks on food-related infrastructure amid prolonged conflicts and political instability.
The analysis identified hundreds of attacks on markets and food distribution channels that disrupted access to food for vulnerable communities. In many cases, civilians seeking aid or attempting to secure food supplies were caught in violence or killed while accessing assistance. Researchers also documented extensive damage to farmland and irrigation systems, compounding food shortages in already fragile regions.
Humanitarian experts warn that the destruction of food infrastructure often has consequences extending far beyond immediate conflict zones. Food insecurity can deepen displacement crises, increase malnutrition and trigger broader regional instability. International observers have repeatedly stated that conflict remains one of the leading causes of acute hunger globally, affecting millions of people.
Experts also pointed out that women and children often bear a disproportionate burden during food crises. In many conflict-affected communities, women frequently assume greater risks while trying to secure food for families, making them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
Analysts say the growing use of food deprivation as a war tactic reflects a broader shift in the nature of armed conflict, where civilian infrastructure is increasingly targeted to weaken populations and exert pressure. Human rights groups and global organisations have renewed calls for stronger enforcement mechanisms and accountability measures to ensure that food and humanitarian aid do not become instruments of war.
