A rise in armed conflicts has led to an explosion in the world's refugee population, many of whom live in a state of food insecurity at refugee camps like the one seen here in Uganda. (Photo: UNMISS/Flickr/cc)
Conflicts and Climate Change Fueling Rise in World Hunger
"This has set off alarm bells we cannot afford to ignore," according to U.N. report
Armed conflicts and climate change are key factors being blamed for a rise in worldwide hunger--the first in over a decade, according to a new United Nations report.
Malnutrition and food insecurity affected 815 million people around the world in 2016--up from 777 million the previous year. Many of the countries where people suffer the most from hunger have been affected by armed conflicts. Conflicts between armed groups has gone up by 125 percent since 2010, often growing into larger wars and affecting countries including Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan, where the situation spiraled into a famine for several months earlier this year.
The report casts doubt on the U.N.'s stated aim to eradicate hunger by 2030--a theoretically achievable goal, considering, as the U.N. stressed when it announced the goal, the amount of food in the world is more than enough to feed the global population.
"This has set off alarm bells we cannot afford to ignore," said the authors of the report, who represent five U.N. agencies. "We will not end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 unless we address all the factors that undermine food security and nutrition. Securing peaceful and inclusive societies is a necessary condition to that end."
A rise in armed conflicts since 2005 has led to an explosion in the worldwide refugee population, leading to greater food insecurity for 64 million people.
The report also names the destruction of wheat and barley fields in Iraq, damage to infrastructure in Syria, and the loss of livestock and crops in South Sudan as effects of conflict which are linked to hunger.
Climate change has led to chronic hunger around the world as well, especially in places impacted by drought and flooding. Even in places not currently impacted by ongoing fighting, according to the report, climate change can have a domino effect on the region--creating conflict over scarce fertile land and water, and in turn leading to food insecurity:
Competition over productive land and water has been identified as a potential trigger for conflict...Sources estimate that over the past 60 years, 40 percent of civil wars have been associated with natural resources.
"The concurrence of conflict and climate-related natural disasters is likely to increase with climate change," the report says, "as climate change not only threatens food insecurity and malnutrition, but can also contribute to further downward deterioration into conflict, protracted crisis and continued fragility."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Armed conflicts and climate change are key factors being blamed for a rise in worldwide hunger--the first in over a decade, according to a new United Nations report.
Malnutrition and food insecurity affected 815 million people around the world in 2016--up from 777 million the previous year. Many of the countries where people suffer the most from hunger have been affected by armed conflicts. Conflicts between armed groups has gone up by 125 percent since 2010, often growing into larger wars and affecting countries including Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan, where the situation spiraled into a famine for several months earlier this year.
The report casts doubt on the U.N.'s stated aim to eradicate hunger by 2030--a theoretically achievable goal, considering, as the U.N. stressed when it announced the goal, the amount of food in the world is more than enough to feed the global population.
"This has set off alarm bells we cannot afford to ignore," said the authors of the report, who represent five U.N. agencies. "We will not end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 unless we address all the factors that undermine food security and nutrition. Securing peaceful and inclusive societies is a necessary condition to that end."
A rise in armed conflicts since 2005 has led to an explosion in the worldwide refugee population, leading to greater food insecurity for 64 million people.
The report also names the destruction of wheat and barley fields in Iraq, damage to infrastructure in Syria, and the loss of livestock and crops in South Sudan as effects of conflict which are linked to hunger.
Climate change has led to chronic hunger around the world as well, especially in places impacted by drought and flooding. Even in places not currently impacted by ongoing fighting, according to the report, climate change can have a domino effect on the region--creating conflict over scarce fertile land and water, and in turn leading to food insecurity:
Competition over productive land and water has been identified as a potential trigger for conflict...Sources estimate that over the past 60 years, 40 percent of civil wars have been associated with natural resources.
"The concurrence of conflict and climate-related natural disasters is likely to increase with climate change," the report says, "as climate change not only threatens food insecurity and malnutrition, but can also contribute to further downward deterioration into conflict, protracted crisis and continued fragility."
Armed conflicts and climate change are key factors being blamed for a rise in worldwide hunger--the first in over a decade, according to a new United Nations report.
Malnutrition and food insecurity affected 815 million people around the world in 2016--up from 777 million the previous year. Many of the countries where people suffer the most from hunger have been affected by armed conflicts. Conflicts between armed groups has gone up by 125 percent since 2010, often growing into larger wars and affecting countries including Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan, where the situation spiraled into a famine for several months earlier this year.
The report casts doubt on the U.N.'s stated aim to eradicate hunger by 2030--a theoretically achievable goal, considering, as the U.N. stressed when it announced the goal, the amount of food in the world is more than enough to feed the global population.
"This has set off alarm bells we cannot afford to ignore," said the authors of the report, who represent five U.N. agencies. "We will not end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 unless we address all the factors that undermine food security and nutrition. Securing peaceful and inclusive societies is a necessary condition to that end."
A rise in armed conflicts since 2005 has led to an explosion in the worldwide refugee population, leading to greater food insecurity for 64 million people.
The report also names the destruction of wheat and barley fields in Iraq, damage to infrastructure in Syria, and the loss of livestock and crops in South Sudan as effects of conflict which are linked to hunger.
Climate change has led to chronic hunger around the world as well, especially in places impacted by drought and flooding. Even in places not currently impacted by ongoing fighting, according to the report, climate change can have a domino effect on the region--creating conflict over scarce fertile land and water, and in turn leading to food insecurity:
Competition over productive land and water has been identified as a potential trigger for conflict...Sources estimate that over the past 60 years, 40 percent of civil wars have been associated with natural resources.
"The concurrence of conflict and climate-related natural disasters is likely to increase with climate change," the report says, "as climate change not only threatens food insecurity and malnutrition, but can also contribute to further downward deterioration into conflict, protracted crisis and continued fragility."