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https://theconversation.com/starving-civilians-is-an-ancient-military-tactic-but-today-its-a-war-crime-in-ukraine-yemen-tigray-and-elsewhere-184297>
"A hideous contradiction is playing out in war-torn Ukraine. Thousands of
Ukrainians are starving in cities besieged by Russian forces. Meanwhile, the
country’s grain stores are bursting with food, and the government is begging
for international assistance to export Ukrainian grain to world markets.
Freeing the wheat will blunt the world food crisis, which is an urgent
imperative. But it won’t stop belligerents around the world from using
starvation as a favored weapon.
At the end of 2021, almost 200 million people globally were suffering acute
food insecurity. The number climbed after Russia’s invasion and blockade of
Ukraine, a key exporter of grains and oil seeds, which disrupted world food
markets. This is pushing up food prices and straining aid budgets.
Russia isn’t the only belligerent to weaponize hunger. Most people at risk of
famine today live in places afflicted by war. Many are being deliberately
starved in what amounts to a form of societal torture.
Historically, starvation tactics have been excluded from war crimes
prosecutions. As scholars who study international law, humanitarian crises and
food security, our view is that it is time to confront the criminality of this
practice."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
