#WorkldCentralKitchen

[bloghrexach]

“Since the beginning of time, food has been used as a weapon of war. Enemies have tried to starve each other to death.

Romans used hunger tactics to defeat and destroy Carthage in 146 B.C. The tactics include destroying food, farms, and water supplies and cutting off besieged enemy populations.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the “Lieber Code” in instructing the union army that it is “lawful to starve the hostile belligerent, armed or unarmed,” specifying that fleeing civilians could be driven back into a besieged location “so as to hasten on the surrender” (United States. War Department, 1898).

Adolf Hitler’s “Hungerplan” starved 4.2 million Soviet citizens to death during World War II from 1941 to 1944 (Runge & Graham, 2020).

Hitler’s starvation of Russia relied on American history with “Redskins”.

Backed by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the American government killed tens of millions of buffalo to starve the Native Americans to death since they were fighting to keep white settlers from taking their lands.

By 1893, the number of bison had shrunk to about 400.

Even today, leaders are still weaponising food to swing “wars” in their imperial efforts to exploit, expand and dominate.

While some might argue that times have changed, the truth is that war strategies somewhat remain the same;

“Starvation is being used as a weapon of war against Gaza civilians”, Oxfam, 2024

The international agency analysed UN data and found that just 2% of food that would have been delivered has entered Gaza since the total siege - which tightened the existing blockade was imposed on 9 October.

2.2 million civilians are now in urgent need of food.

Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Middle East Director said: “The situation is nothing short of horrific - where is humanity? Millions of civilians are being collectively punished in full view of the world, there can be no justification for using starvation as a weapon of war. World leaders cannot continue to sit back and watch, they have an obligation to act and to act now”

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) strictly prohibits the use of starvation as a method of warfare and as the occupying power in Gaza, Israel is bound by IHL obligations to provide for the needs and protection of the population of Gaza.

Oxfam said that it is becoming painfully clear that the unfolding humanitarian situation in Gaza squarely fits the prohibition condemned in the resolution.

Ships loaded with 240 tons of humanitarian aid returned from Gaza without delivering the aid, Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus said.

“Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them until a Day when their eyes will stare in horror” … 14:42