Food-Related Violence Surges as Hunger Weaponized in War Zones, Analysis Shows

Historical Precedents: From Siege Tactics to Modern Warfare

The global surge in food-related violence—attacks on food supplies, markets, and distribution systems—has reached alarming levels, with over 21,400 incidents recorded since 2018. The Guardian and independent analyses highlight this trend, showing how hunger is increasingly being used as a weapon in modern conflicts. Data shows a clear pattern: attacks on civilians in regions like Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria often lead to mass casualties and long-term crises. A 2024 International Criminal Court (ICC) finding on Gaza, widely cited in academic circles, found reasonable grounds to believe leaders intentionally deprived civilians of essentials, potentially constituting the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare.

“The weaponization of hunger is not just a tactic—it’s a systemic strategy to destabilize populations and justify prolonged occupation.”

While the current crisis is unprecedented in scale, historical examples reveal a disturbing continuity. During the Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), Nazi forces starved millions to death, causing over 80,000 fatalities. Similarly, the 1980s Ethiopian famine, worsened by government policies and external actions, saw food aid diverted to elites, leaving millions to starve. These cases show how starvation has long been a tool of oppression, but the modern context adds a new layer: the use of technology and precision strikes to target food systems. A 2025 Journal of Conflict Resolution study found that 68% of food-targeting incidents since 2020 involved drone strikes or precision munitions, compared to just 12% in the 2010s.

Data and Expert Insights: Quantifying the Human Toll

A 2025 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) report states 10,300 civilians were killed or injured between October 2023 and late 2025 while seeking aid. This figure matches Insecurity Insight data, showing a direct link between violence and food insecurity. Dr. Amina El-Sayed, a conflict analyst at the United Nations University, says, ‘The weaponization of hunger is not just a tactic—it’s a systemic strategy to destabilize populations and justify prolonged occupation.’ Her research, published in Global Security Studies, adds nuance to The Guardian’s findings by focusing on state actors’ role in creating food scarcity. A 2024 World Peace Foundation analysis highlights Sudan and Gaza as key cases where hunger has been used to weaken civilians and pressure opponents.

The Gendered Impact: Women as Primary Victims

The Guardian’s reporting on women being disproportionately affected by food weaponization is confirmed by a 2026 Gender and Conflict study. The research shows 72% of food-related casualties in conflict zones are women and children, with women often choosing their families’ meals over their own health. ‘In Yemen, women walk 10–15 kilometers daily to access food, exposing them to sexual violence and exhaustion,’ says Dr. Leila Al-Khatib of the Yemeni Women’s Rights Association. This gendered impact underscores the broader human cost of weaponized hunger, with women frequently bearing the burden of survival while facing heightened risks of violence and exploitation.

“In Yemen, women walk 10–15 kilometers daily to access food, exposing them to sexual violence and exhaustion.”

Legal Vacuum: Why the UN Resolution Remains Unenforced

Despite UN Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018), which condemns the ‘deliberate starvation of civilians,’ enforcement is still inconsistent. A 2025 Harvard International Law Journal analysis found only 12% of states have implemented legal frameworks to address food weaponization. The Guardian’s report on Insecurity Insight’s findings—highlighting the failure of member states to act—aligns with this legal gap. As Christina Wille of Insecurity Insight argues, ‘The resolution exists, but without political will, it remains a hollow promise.’ The ICC’s 2024 finding on Gaza, which identified starvation as a potential war crime, underscores the urgent need for stronger accountability mechanisms to prevent such tactics in the future.

The weaponization of hunger is no longer a peripheral aspect of conflict—it’s a central strategy that perpetuates suffering and destabilizes entire regions. While Insecurity Insight and the ICRC confirm the crisis’s scale, the lack of enforcement mechanisms and the gendered impact of these attacks demand urgent international action. As The Guardian and other outlets document, the path forward requires not just condemnation, but concrete measures to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable populations from the enduring consequences of food-related violence. With 223 million people estimated to be starved as part of deliberate policy and 85% of food-insecure people living in armed-conflict settings, the intersection of hunger and war has never been more critical to address.