Commentary: The markets of hunger: Questioning food aid (non‐emergency/long‐term)

Long‐term non‐emergency food aid is rightly accused of many things: being based on a false logic; doing more harm than good; maintaining (and protecting) the status quo in Third World countries; undermining food autonomy; being a weapon for the rich countries; aiding development of hunger. There is no indication that policies regarding food aid — both in donor and recipient countries — are changing drastically despite evidence for the above claims. Food aid can play a role in fostering development, but not just any kind of aid. In this context, it is important to determine which kind of aid would be needed, for whom, and under what circumstances, short of a call for an overall discontinuation of food aid. Triangular deals, involving neighboring regions or countries for provision of food, have been one such innovative approach. Food aid has its own politics. Denouncing its deleterious effects is not enough. Some political action needs to be taken now.

Key words:

• Food aid
• non‐emergency
• hunger
• food
• self‐sufficiency
• triangular deals