IFPRI Report

Volume 20, Number 2
July 1998

Breaking the Links Between Conflict and Hunger

The paper shows how violent conflicts bred hunger and reduced food production and economic growth in 47 developing countries during 1970–90. In 1996, armed hostilities—mostly civil wars—and their aftermath left 80 million people, including 50 million refugees and other uprooted people, at risk of hunger and dependent on humanitarian assistance.

The authors note that conflict destroys land, water, infrastructure, and biological and social resources for agriculture and human development, while military expenditures lower investments in health, education, and environmental protection. Since 1970, wars have taken a million lives annually, mainly civilians. Conflict zones are “resource poor,” and once fighting ends, they face enormous reconstruction burdens.

The authors emphasize that food insecurity and natural resource scarcities—real and perceived—are major causes as well as consequences of conflict.

The paper presents research findings on conflict and declining per capita food production in Sub-Saharan Africa since 1970. Data are limited but show an average 12.4 percent drop in annual food production per capita in conflict countries. In Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Sudan, food crises due to natural disasters and relief and development mismanagement led to government collapse, followed by even greater shortfalls in ensuing war years. In the 1990s, peace would have added 3.9 to 5.3 percent to African food production’s per capita growth.

The paper calls for conflict prevention to become a major goal of food, agriculture, environment, and economic development. Aid should help lessen rather than worsen inequalities that promote hunger and conflict. Relief programs should focus on food security and sustainable development as well as immediate survival. The following steps to avoid conflict could be incorporated into food and agricultural aid policies:

• Develop early-warning systems of possible conflicts.
• Direct relief and development assistance to the most vulnerable civilians, fostering cooperation instead of competition and conflict.
• Incorporate conflict mitigation and, where possible, reconstruction into emergency assistance.
• Work with affected communities to rehabilitate agriculture and develop local capacity to respond to hunger and prevent conflict.
• Hold donors accountable for how aid is delivered.
• Include “peace” considerations, assessing how policies will influence food security, equity, and poverty in national macroeconomic planning and development aid.