Written by Vanshika, a Food Science Major at the University of Manitoba
Famine does not normally start from an empty storehouse, but rather from inaccessible food caused by either artificial or natural disaster. From Gaza and Ukraine to Myanmar and Lebanon, the weapons used in wars also simultaneously and inevitably destroy the farmlands, canals, and food systems necessary for civilians to live. The relationship between explosive weapons and famine is no longer a hypothesis but one that has been verified and is growing fast. The World Food Program documents that 70 percent of food-insecure people live in conflict zones.
The conventional understanding of hunger revolves around issues like droughts or lack of resources. However, there have been accumulating studies which prove that explosive weapons, such as aerial bombs, artillery shells, mortars, rockets landmines, and cluster munitions are directly responsible for food insecurity by targeting resources like fields, water, and markets.
Food security, as defined by the World Food Programme (WFP), is access to safe, nutritious and ample food for growth and development of an individual. On the other hand, food insecurity refers to inability to consume food for long stretches of time. WFP lists “conflict” as one of the key sources of chronic food insecurity.
Effects on Food Accessibility
Explosive weapon usage in agricultural lands influences food security through the following cascading impacts on a household level, regionally, and internationally:
- On a household level, food insecurity results from crop loss, livestock loss, loss of agricultural land, or contaminated land from explosive remnants of war.
- On a regional level, damage to commercial agricultural lands and infrastructure leads to the disruption of food chains and rising food prices, making food products unaffordable.
- On an international level, conflict in key food production regions may disrupt global food markets as well. For example, the war in Ukraine affected the country’s ability to export its grains and increased international food price levels. Furthermore, the agricultural sector is crucial for Myanmar’s economy as it makes up for 32% of GDP which provides employment. Consequently, agricultural disruption that follows the ongoing civil war in Myanmar may lead to devastating consequences for food systems in the country and internationally. The impacts of the current civil war taking place in Myanmar can be seen already. According to a statement released in March 2025 by UN human rights experts, it is expected that 15.2 million people – nearly one-third of the total population – will suffer from severe food insecurity in 2025 due to attacks made by military on the agricultural tools and contamination of the farmland due to landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The presence of landmines and cluster munitions restricts access to arable land as well as water resources. This affects the presence of food and food sources. Landmines affect animal husbandry by not only posing danger on the livestock but also decreases the grazing land and infrastructure required for the same. In 42% of all such instances, states employ explosive weapons against other countries and territories and this is related to most of the instances where explosive weapons were used against agricultural lands in other countries and territories. For example, the Turkish Armed Forces were responsible for at least 81 incidents of use of explosive weapons in Syria and Iraq during a military campaign against Kurdish-affiliated forces in northern Syria (40 incidents) and Iraq (41 incidents). Turkish forces have used artillery shelling and air strikes on agricultural land, burning down orchards, pastures and vineyards. In some cases, Turkish forces reportedly attacked Kurdistan Workers’ Party militants in Iraq or Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria, but in many cases, the motive behind these attacks was not known.
Environment and Ecological Damages and further consequences.
When explosive weapons are used, environmental and ecological damage affect farming and agriculture. Polluted lands and water bodies lead to inefficient agricultural productivity. This lessens crop yield and creates a food shortage for communities.
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) pollute water bodies and lands, leading to health and environmental hazards. Soil health also gets affected by remnants of heavy metals. UN Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land focuses on stopping and reversing land degradation. Vegetation change and soil erosion are among the top environmental problems linked with the conflict in Syria. Pollutants that can be accumulated and left in the soil because of existence, usage, and disposal of explosive ordnance can affect human health, potentially moving from the contaminated soil to the groundwater or nearby surface water.
An example of soil degradation can be found from a pilot study in the village of Luong Mai, Vietnam which was a US defense location, and the village also has a number of bunkers. According to Norwegian People Aid’s cluster munition remnants survey, there was a hazardous area in Luong Mai Village that occupied 259,770 m2. The clearance of the studied area started in January 2018. The results of the soil analysis and testing conducted have shown that soil was characterized by sandiness and acidity. Soil acidity may cause an increase in mobility and bioavailability of some metal elements, like copper and zinc. The organic matter level in the soil was also very low.
Aside from the effects of the contamination itself, one must take into consideration the social and economic effects. Farmers from the locality won't be able to produce crops without exposing themselves to health risks. The chemicals are absorbed into the soil, water, and air which have a negative impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. It can take more than a decade to reverse the damage done to land and water bodies from the toxicity of weapons.
Another example of the impact of explosive weapons on food security comes from Gaza where Israel’s airstrikes damaged desalination facilities critical to the local water supply, increasing reliance on scarce external water deliveries and the few remaining operational wells. Targeting civilian water sources is illegal under International Humanitarian Law. Water is also required for the cultivation of food; the desalination plants used for providing drinking water in addition to the wells will dictate the quantity of water used for agriculture and livestock. Water from the underground sources in Gaza had been highly exploited and was salty, and therefore with the destruction of the desalination plants, there is not sufficient water for use with the need for drinking and sanitation taking priority over irrigation of crops. In an article published in October 2025, it was indicated that over 300 wells were either damaged or made inaccessible, that desalination plants were functioning at 15% to 50% of their capacity and over 80% of farmlands were damaged.
How Humanitarian Disarmament Combats Conflict Related Food Insecurity
When a community of people work against the remnants of explosive weapons and to prevent further damage by these weapons, the agricultural land flourishes, giving people proper source of food. For example, in Khagnou village in Khammouane, Laos, Mines Advisory Group cleared over 1.5 km2 of land, disposing of over 1,300 UXO (unexploded ordnance)This enabled the community to put in place irrigation to be used by the community rice fields. Mr. Toun from the village explained that prior to clearance, he could produce only 40-50 sacks of rice a year. However, after the clearance, he felt confident enough to scale up his operation. After installing irrigation, he was able to farm two times a year, producing 110 sacks of rice annually.
The humanitarian disarmament movement seeks to address the consequences of armed conflict so that people can live in safety and dignity, including with food security. Multiple international disarmament agreements such as the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas address the harms caused by explosive weapons. These agreements are important international tools for preventing food insecurity caused by conflict.
Civilians and civilian objects, including agricultural land and water sources, should never be the target. In fact, under International Humanitarian Law which all states are bound by, it is illegal to target civilian infrastructure. These rules need to be followed in order for civilians to leave in peace, with food security.
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