Combating hunger and diseases in a warravaged society: interrogating the Biafran experience during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970

Abstract

Hunger and diseases are twin consequences of war which confirms the notion that war is much more responsible than drought for the shortage of food in most societies because of its destructive impact on the economic and social fabric of the people. With economic and social fabric in shreds, the result has always been chronic food shortages and malnutrition. During the civil war in Nigeria, 1967-1970, the enclave called Biafra suffered greatly from lack of food and medicals which resulted into wide spread hunger and diseases among the people. This pathetic situation was caused by the imposition of an economic blockade on the eastern region by the federal government of Nigeria and the destruction of farm lands by the invading Nigerian soldiers. This paper interrogates the level of hunger and diseases prevalent in Biafra and the strategy adopted by the government and people to combat or at least ameliorate the harsh consequences of these twin monsters.