Anti-Hunger Charity Opens Doors To ‘Conflict Café’ With Cutlery Made Of Bullets
By Alexa Heah, 01 Jun 2023

Ever wondered what the connection was between violent conflict and hunger? Quite a bit, claims nonprofit Action Against Hunger UK, which hosted its first-ever ‘Conflict Café’ recently. Notable guests were invited to a “scaled-back” breakfast spotlighting the issue in question.
As part of the fifth anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417, the charity served up a three-course meal, but instead of delectable dishes, guests were met with empty plates as a stark reminder of the reality of world hunger.
In addition, unlike the typical forks and spoons seen in a fine dining establishment, the cutlery paired with the invisible dishes were made of bullets, hailing from countries in which conflict is the biggest cause of hunger among their people.
“Off-menu” selections included a summer salad, which the café “failed” to dish out as “suppliers” had their fields seized by local militia to be used to plant mines instead of vegetation. Plus, dessert sorbets went “missing” after local water towers were destroyed by shelling.
According to the organization’s No Matter Who’s Fighting, Hunger Always Wins report, war and violence are the driving factors behind food insecurity for 85% of 258 million residents in 58 countries across the globe.
“Conflict remains the leading cause of acute hunger worldwide and continues to rise. In many conflicts, siege tactics are increasingly depriving people of the basic means of survival, including humanitarian support,” said Kate Munro, Head of Advocacy for Action Against Hunger UK.
“Civilians are becoming the targets of violent attacks, including the deliberate burning of crops, bombing of markets and water infrastructure, and mining of agricultural land. Our fight against hunger is also a fight for peace,” she added.
[via Marketing Beat and Action Against Hunger UK, cover image via Action Against Hunger UK]