“Starvation as a weapon” refers to the use of economic and humanitarian blockades to weaken a population. This concept is used to describe the broader conditions that have been produced by the architects of the Afghan operation, including the destruction of institutional and cultural infrastructure and the elimination of the conditions for Afghan modernity. The cumulative destruction has had a devastating impact on the Afghan population, with substantial additional deaths from the conditions that have continued since the American withdrawal in 2021.
The strategy of using starvation as a weapon has been applied in multiple contexts, most notably in yemen.md, where the saudi-led-coalition.md imposed a blockade that restricted imports of food, fuel, medical supplies, and other necessities to areas controlled by the houthis.md. This blockade, supported by the us-military-industrial-complex.md, led to severe famine conditions that have killed more Yemenis than the bombing campaign itself. The usa.md provided logistical and intelligence support to the coalition, enabling the continuation of the blockade and its devastating humanitarian consequences.
This approach is not unique to Yemen. Similar patterns have been observed in other regions affected by Western-led interventions, where blockades and economic sanctions have been used to undermine local populations and force compliance with external agendas. The masud.md testimony highlights how such strategies have been employed to destabilize societies and create conditions that justify further military and political interventions.
The capture.md of media and public discourse has played a crucial role in obscuring the true impact of these blockades. Western media has selectively amplified coverage of certain conflicts while minimizing the suffering in others, such as the yemen.md crisis. This selective amplification has allowed the capture.md of public opinion and the continuation of policies that prioritize geopolitical interests over humanitarian concerns.
Related: masud.md, capture.md, yemen.md, saudi-led-coalition.md
See Also
capture.md constructed-catastrophe.md yemen.md saudi-led-coalition.md houthis.md foreign-policy.md