Hunger and Conflict 2023
Conflict is the leading cause of hunger. The alarming rise in hunger worldwide goes hand in hand with the rise in armed conflicts and a disregard for international law, of which civilians are victims.
World leaders have made promise after promise to lead efforts to stop the rise of conflict-driven hunger, committing to both prevent famine and protect civilians from starvation as a weapon of warfare. But they seem to be losing their appetite for action.
We need to hold world leaders accountable for their commitments to tackle conflict driven hunger. Sign this open letter to show them we won’t stand by while people facing conflict are driven closer to starvation.
Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
Across the world, the vicious cycle of conflict and hunger is worsening. In just the first six months of 2022, around 103 million people – almost triple the population of Canada– were forced from their homes because of conflict.
Conflict can turn anyone’s life upside down, forcing people to flee their homes, destroying crops, reducing the supply of food, and pushing people towards more dangerous methods of survival.
Today, 258 million people are facing severe hunger crises, and over 70% of them live in areas affected by conflict.
The alarming resurgence of hunger in the world goes hand in hand with the rise in armed conflicts and a flagrant disregard for international law, of which ordinary people are the first victims.
In 2018, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2417, officially recognizing the links between conflict and hunger and that starvation as a weapon of war may constitute a war crime. Although international commitments such as Resolution 2417 and the 2021 G7 Famine Prevention Compact are welcome, not enough has been done to implement them.
We are therefore calling on the Government of Canada to:
Implement Resolution 2417 to end hunger as a weapon of war.
- Promote systematic and objective reporting and accountability mechanisms to track fulfillment of UN Resolution 2417.
- Leverage Canada’s diplomatic influence at the UN and bilaterally with states facing conflict, as part of Canada’s commitment to UN resolution 2417.
Support a refreshed 2021 G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact with concrete actions and an accountability framework.
- Publicly report on efforts to implement the commitments outlined in the 2021 G7 Famine Compact and call on G7 allies to do the same.
Urgently pledge and disburse new additional funding to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs and build resilience in conflict-affected areas. Engage in bilateral efforts to prevent and mitigate attacks on food security and enhance anticipatory action to respond timely and adequately.
Actions speak louder than words and we’re counting on you to take action against hunger.