As scientists advocating for nutrition equity in crises, we confront a harrowing reality: human-made famines in Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen are weaponizing starvation, with over 1.2 million people facing IPC Phase 5 (catastrophic food insecurity) in 2025. Deliberate obstruction of aid, targeting of health infrastructure, and systemic violations of international humanitarian law perpetuate mass suffering. Malnutrition in early childhood—particularly during the first 1,000 days—inflicts irreversible harm, including stunted growth, cognitive deficits, and heightened mortality risk. These biological and socioeconomic scars transcend generations via epigenetic pathways, perpetuating cycles of poverty and instability. Science provides actionable solutions: treating acute malnutrition, ensuring access to food, clean water, and medical care are evidence-based interventions that save lives. Yet, undernutrition is not merely a consequence of conflict—it fuels future instability. Urgent action is imperative. Ceasing hostilities and enabling unimpeded humanitarian aid today is the only path to avert intergenerational trauma, prevent famine-related deaths, and break cycles of complicity. The time for caution has passed; the time for decisive, ethical action is now.
OSENDARP Saskia;
HADDAD Lawrence;
FABRIZIO Cecilia;
ANDRIDGE Caroline;
BLACK Robert E;
BROWN Molly;
BRYAN Elizabeth;
CAMPBELL Bruce;
D'ALIMONTE Mary;
FANZO Jessica;
HEADY Derek;
HEIDKAMP Rebecca;
MCCARTER Abbe;
MENON Purnima;
KRISITNA Michaux;
NORDHAGEN Stella;
MIACHON Lais;
VERSTRAETEN Roosmarijn;
BHUTTA Zulfiqar;
2025-07-28
THE LANCET PUBLISHING GROUP
JRC143320
1474-547X (online),
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673625015429,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143320,
10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01542-9 (online),
