2023-07-31 05:30:00
Does IHL offer tools to avoid food insecurity and famine?
Yes. First of all, it is absolutely prohibited starve the civilian population as a method of warfare. In addition, international humanitarian law contains a non-exhaustive list of essential goods for the survival of the civilian population that enjoy greater protection: food, agricultural areas, crops, livestock, drinking water facilities, inputs and irrigation works. It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render unusable in any other way these assets, except in very exceptional circumstances.
There are many more rules on the conduct of hostilities than are applicable. If parties to a conflict were to respect them more when planning or conducting their military operations, the effects of armed conflict on food insecurity around the world could be better mitigated.
To begin with, the general rules on distinction, proportionality y precautions confer protection to civilian objects. These must not be the object of attack and the use of methods or means of warfare with indiscriminate effects is also prohibited. For the application of these norms, the direct and indirect effects that the attacks could have on the civilian population are also pertinent. In other words, the land, infrastructure and other essential goods for the production, distribution and supply of food and water, such as markets or power generating plantsbenefit from this protection even when the IHL treaties do not expressly refer to them as “indispensable assets for the survival of the civilian population.”
In addition, IHL prohibits or restricts the use of certain weapons that can have widespread and long-lasting negative effects on food security. For example, it prohibits the use of weapons poisonous, biological y chemicalsrestricts the use of herbicides as weapons and prohibits and restricts the use of antipersonnel mines, cluster munitions y nuclear weapons.
Likewise, the use of weapons and tactics designed to cause, or which can be expected to cause, extensive, serious and lasting damage to the natural environment is strictly prohibited.
Last but not least, a whole set of rules prohibits attacks on dams, dikes and nuclear plants if those attacks can lead to the release of dangerous forces that could cause serious losses in the civilian population. Obviously, the release of dangerous forces can cause contamination of land and water, destroy livestock, and affect the atmosphere and climate, thus increasing the risk of food insecurity and famine. These standards are critical for the protection of civilians.
While respecting these rules will help mitigate the effects of war on food insecurity, it is important to remember that even when hostilities are conducted in compliance with IHL, conflict will have many indirect effects on food security and food systems. It is necessary to closely monitor these effects so that affected people have access to food in sufficient quantity and quality.
On the other hand, there are regulations on humanitarian aid whose purpose is to help prevent food insecurity and famine.
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