Gendering Mass Starvation: Violence, Survival Systems, and Cumulative Harm in Contemporary Wars in Tigray, Gaza, and Sudan
Mass starvation and gender-based violence are deeply interconnected, yet they are rarely examined together in research, law, or policy. This report, based on an expert seminar convened by the World Peace Foundation at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in October 2025, explores how starvation in armed conflict intersects with sexual, reproductive, and obstetric violence. Bringing together scholars and practitioners from famine research, international criminal law, humanitarian response, and gender analysis, the report examines how gender shapes the experience of mass starvation and how legal and policy frameworks can better recognize these overlapping harms.
Drawing on case studies from Tigray, Sudan, and Gaza, the report demonstrates that mass starvation is not simply the result of food shortages but of deliberate attacks on the systems that sustain civilian life, including food production, healthcare, water access, markets, and social support. These attacks often occur alongside widespread gender-based violence, creating mutually reinforcing patterns of harm that weaken individuals, disrupt families, and threaten the survival of entire communities.
The report concludes by identifying key lessons for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to prevent and respond to mass starvation. It offers new analytical frameworks, examines the legal implications of these intersecting forms of violence, and presents key takeaways to inform future research, humanitarian action, and accountability efforts.
