The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip

European officials, food safety experts, and industry representatives recently gathered in Brussels to discuss potential solutions to a looming food crisis in Europe. The pandemic has created several challenges, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disruptions to shipping routes and supply chains, and unpredictable and extreme weather conditions. Sadly, in 2022, weather and climatic events in Europe have already caused losses in agriculture amounting to over EUR 50 billion. Experts warn that the outbreak of pan-European riots related to food shortages is becoming increasingly likely over time.

The Sudanese civil war has left at least 25 million people in Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad at risk of food insecurity, and humanitarian aid in the region has reached a “critical point.” According to the World Food Program (WFP), this situation threatens to cause “the world’s worst hunger crisis.”

Although several countries, including France, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the US, and Jordan, have made more than 20 aid drops into the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, residents are reporting that this assistance falls short of basic needs. According to Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, “Airdrops are expensive, random, and usually result in the wrong people receiving help.” The WFP also notes that airdrops should only be used as a “last resort” when other, more effective options fail. Furthermore, airdrops are seven times more expensive than ground assistance.