The Cycle of Poverty and War

 

© HahnHunger, poverty and conflicts are closely interrelated: throughout history crop failures and hunger have triggered wars, uprisings and revolutions. For instance in England in the 19th Century or in the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 20th Century. In Ancient Greece, too, there were frequent disputes over fertile land because of scarce food resources.

This has been confirmed by recent events in developing countries. In Haiti, for instance, the government was toppled in Spring 2008. The reason was prolonged protests against rising rice prices. Thousands of demonstrators set up street barricades, smashed window panes and set fire to cars and businesses. There were also protests against the global rise in food prices in the Philippines, in Bangladesh, Indonesia, as well as in several African countries, such as Burkina Faso and Egypt. Although some of them were violently suppressed, they threatened the stability of the governments there.

Protest in Haitis capital
Port-au-Prince. © ReutersHunger leads to civil wars

A report by the World Bank in 2003 emphasised the connection between hunger and war (see go.worldbank.org/6BH1RL0GH0): if the economic growth of a country slows down by five percent, the probability of a conflict increases by 50 percent. In contrast the doubling of the gross domestic product from 250 to 500 US dollars reduces the potential for conflict by 50 percent during the next five years. To sum the situation up: the danger of civil war is greatest where people go hungry, are threatened by natural disasters and do not have any health care. Therefore, in view of the rising food prices Jean Ziegler, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food predicted that in future hunger revolts would not only become more numerous but would also intensify and be more painful and dramatic.

In spring 2008, cookies
made of mud were the only
food poor people in Haiti
could afford. © WHHCivil wars worsen hunger

At the same time civil wars also intensify poverty and hunger. The food situation during and after a war is usually disastrous. Production losses are high, because during war fields and streets are destroyed or mined and livestock is killed. There is no fertilizer and agricultural machinery is destroyed or has gone missing. Local and regional trade collapses. There is insufficient workforce because young men in particular are recruited for the war or have to hide. Due to flight and displacement people are no longer able to work in their fields and subsequently cannot provide for themselves.

According to the 2006 Global Hunger Index, nearly all countries involved in civil wars have a low gross national income (GNI) per capita and hence rank at the bottom of the index. Even after armed conflicts have ceased crisis countries still have a far worse global hunger index in relation to their GNI compared to countries without conflicts. Following the end of a civil war people's incomes are on average 15 percent lower than in countries which are peaceful.