Abstract:
Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social or economic
access to food. This impacts millions of lives every day and often times countries that are
food insecure have populations that are more likely to live below the international
poverty line. Although the international community is committed to halving the
proportion of people suffering from malnutrition from 1990-2015, the efforts to
accomplish this goal have been limited and is still significantly far away from its target.
Africa suffers immensely from food insecurity; the prevalence of conflict makes it
difficult to address the problem because the violence results in fragmented communities,
instability, and individuals leaving their homes to find alternate food solutions. This in
turn results in lowered food production due to an inability to cultivate the land because it
is either too unsafe to do so or because the land has been abandoned. Subsequently, due
to lowered food production African countries’ economies are negatively impacted
because agriculture accounts for a large proportion of their gross domestic product and
employment. As a result of a lowered production rate, the dependence on international
aid increases.
In some cases, violence and food insecurity have become commonplace and
organisations have failed to resolve the issue for decades. If the goal to reduce and
eventually eradicate global hunger is to be achieved, it is necessary that food insecurity
and conflict are properly dealt with. Humanitarian organisations must go beyond shortterm
response mechanisms and implement long-term measures as well. Even though
some countries may have achieved positive peace after conflict has ceased, it is not
guaranteed that food security will result and that future grievances may not be expressed.
It is imperative that organisations commit to assisting countries to achieve stability,
transparent governments, and productive economies so as to avoid future occurrences of
food insecurity and conflict.
This study assesses the relationship between protracted conflict and food security in
Africa. By assessing the factors that contribute to conflict and weaken a country’s food
security, it was found that there is a direct correlation between the two factors however it
is not guaranteed that food insecurity will result in conflict. The study analyses the
response mechanisms that have been adopted by international organisations and evaluates
their effectiveness at addressing the immediate problems and long-term consequences
associated with conflict and insecurity. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Somalia are case studies that are used to examine the impacts of food security as a result
of conflict. Both countries demonstrate how a lack of functioning, transparent
government and prevalence of violence throughout the country severely impacts people’s
lives and accessibility to food which results in mass displacement. This makes it
extremely difficult for humanitarian organisations to implement response mechanisms to
improve the livelihoods of individuals, and while immediate food aid is helpful, it is only
a temporary response.
In order to properly address protracted conflict and food insecurity, it is necessary that
humanitarian organisations develop response mechanisms that address immediate food
needs as well as help to reduce the prevalence of conflict. In addition, it has proven to be
beneficial to take into consideration other factors that are impacted as a result of conflict
and food insecurity; addressing gender needs as well as ensuring access to education have
both proven to significantly improve individuals’ livelihoods. Ensuring that these needs
are addressed will help reduce the prevalence of food insecurity and conflict in the world
and also help to work towards the other Millennium Development Goals to improve the
lives of the world’s poorest. This requires long-term commitment on the part of
international organisations that are willing to ensure that the symptoms that result in
protracted conflict and food insecurity are properly dealt with. Otherwise, there lies the
risk of cyclical outbreaks of violence and food insecurity which negatively impacts
individuals’ livelihoods and moves further away from achieving the goal of eradicating
world hunger.