Campaign
The use of hunger as a weapon of war must stop
Conflicts are one of the leading causes of hunger affecting millions of people around the world. Six out of 10 undernourished people live in regions impacted by conflict.
Hunger itself is often used as a weapon of war against civilians. Bombing markets, blocking access to roads, poisoning wells, destroying farming lands… these are some of the war tactics used to starve and enslave entire populations.
In light of this, in countries such as Yemen, Syria, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic or South Sudan, hunger is deliberately used as a weapon of war proving to be as effective as bombs and bullets.
In order to condemn these crimes Action Against Hunger launches #StopHungerCrime
Our campaign #StopHungerCrime
Hunger has been turned into a weapon of war, so we have turned a weapon of war into cutlery against hunger.
We fight against hunger so that we can stand up for peace. You too can help us condemn these crimes. Join our cause and post a picture of your own knife and fork making a cross with the hashtag #StopHungerCrime.
The results of the campaign
Some five months after the end of the first part of our #StopHungerCrime campaign, 600,000 of you supported us by sharing this symbolic gesture that represents our struggle: crossing your cutlery and posting the photo on social media as a sign of protest and support for the fight against hunger. You joined us in condemning the use of hunger as a weapon of war in conflict zones. You were many, far more than we could have imagined.
In total, more than 50 million people were reached by this message, and numerous media outlets covered our #StopHungerCrime campaign in France and internationally.
Today, the fight continues. We are not stopping there; we are continuing our fight for the implementation of UN Resolution 2417, which condemns the use of hunger as a weapon of war. We also want to go further, to ensure that this message is heard by leaders, to encourage concrete actions and policies. For the second part of #StopHungerCrime, our action will go all the way to the G7. This meeting of the seven richest countries will take place this summer in Biarritz. President Emmanuel Macron has chosen inequality as the theme. Action Against Hunger believes that suffering from hunger and not being able to obtain enough food is the greatest inequality of all. This inequality is intensifying and hitting populations even harder.
Support our actions
Our teams work on the ground every day in these countries to help the local populations.
Our work in Nigeria
Although Nigeria is Africa’s second largest economy, more than 60% of its population lives below the poverty line.
For more than nine years, conflict between the government and non-state armed groups has claimed nearly 27,000 lives in the northeast. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced in the three states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, which have been declared a state of emergency due to the attacks. They have taken refuge in formal or informal camps and with host communities. Their arrival has also impacted the living conditions of local communities.
“Nearly 2.9 million people are facing severe food insecurity and 440,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.”
The UN estimates that more than 800,000 people still live in areas inaccessible to humanitarian actors. The ongoing conflict is depriving the population of livelihoods and vital aid, exacerbating malnutrition among the most vulnerable.
Our teams work with displaced people and host communities to help them develop new resources through financial support, but also to combat malnutrition through activities focused on nutrition, food security, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
In 2017, we reached more than 4.8 million people through humanitarian aid and development. The Porridge Mums, groups of around 15 pregnant or breastfeeding women with children under the age of 5, meet every day to cook a nutritious meal together and discuss good practices in care and feeding.
Our work in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Since the 1990s, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been rocked by multiple crises. The country is the scene of inter-community tensions, which expose civilian populations to massive human rights violations and the constant threat of famine.
In the Kasai region, a landlocked area in the center of the country, cycles of violence and reprisals between the different parties to the conflict have led to massive population displacement and the destruction of the resources of these same communities. It is estimated that the population has lost two agricultural seasons as a result.
“In a tropical country where resources are abundant, nearly ten million people are currently food insecure.”
The situation is particularly dire in this area: 3.2 million people are food insecure, and more than 400,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
In response to the emergency, our teams are supporting five health centers in Tshikapa and providing assistance to children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Our work in Yemen
After almost four years of war, Yemen is now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The resurgence of fighting, particularly the escalation of violence around the port of Hodeida, is endangering the lives of civilians and threatening fuel, food, and medicine supply routes to the rest of the country. The attacks and blockade of this port by the parties to the conflict are ostensibly aimed at preventing the illegal supply of weapons to the rebels, but in reality this amounts to trapping and starving the country’s population. Before the conflict, around 80 to 90% of food was imported, mainly by sea.
“At the beginning of the year, 8.4 million people were on the brink of famine; today, the latest estimates have pushed that figure up to around 12 million.”
If nothing is done, in the coming months we risk reaching 14 million people in a pre-famine situation.
Despite difficult access, Action Against Hunger is working in the regions of Aden, Hodeida, and Hajjah. Our teams are responding to the needs of the population in terms of nutrition, health, and healthcare practices, in particular by treating acute malnutrition and distributing food, cash, and/or food vouchers directly.
We also work to improve people’s access to water and sanitation by distributing specific kits and rehabilitating water points and latrines.
How can you help?
To support our actions, you can launch your own fundraising page to collect donations from your friends and family.