Rising Conflict, Rising Risk of Food Crisis
Risk of Food Crisis = Risk of Hunger
Escalating conflict, war and violence are key contributing factors to a severe food crisis.
Damaged infrastructure, livelihoods and displacement leave millions of families facing food shortages in conflict.
For example, the escalation in hostilities witnessed in the State of Palestine and Lebanon will push more families into food insecurity and put children’s health at severe risk.
Are hunger and conflict that intertwined?
More than 60% of the people most at risk from hunger live in conflict zones.
more likely to suffer from malnourishment than children living in a peaceful setting,
Children living in a conflict zone
Ongoing conflict will significantly impact food availability, access, utilisation, stability and much more.
How?
Limited access to food from stores
Food limitation
Import limitation
Increased inflation rate
Accessibility
Availability
Livestock Destruction
Increased food price
Lack of food safety
Economic crisis
Lack of food diversity
War and political instability
Stability
Lack of clean/safe drinking water and energy
Utilisation
Displacement
Malnutrition will be on the rise among children and pregnant and lactating women.
What can be done?
Conflicts are complex
Feeding children isn’t
A proper short and long-term plan is required to mitigate the impact of conflict.
Long-term plans include proper governmental disaster plan during emergencies, shock-responsive social protection and nutrition programmes etc.
Short-term plans include the community working hand-in-hand to support each other along with international humanitarian assistance
“Ta ذغ iya” by Sarah Zahr
To support the Lebanese and Palestinian people during these tough times, any donation - no matter how small - can be of great help.
Sources
- How rising conflict is contributing to the worst hunger crisis in decades Save the Children, 2023
- Hassoun, A., Al-Muhannadi, K., Hassan, H. F., Hamad, A., Khwaldia, K., Buheji, M., & Al Jawaldeh, A. (2024). From acute food insecurity to famine: how the 2023/2024 war on Gaza has dramatically set back sustainable development goal 2 to end hunger. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 8, 1402150.
