Freedom from Hunger: The Right to Adequate Food of Pastoralist Communities in Drought Situations with Particular Reference to Borana Oromo, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The right to adequate food, as recognized under various human rights instruments, is inherently connected to human dignity and is indispensable for the enjoyment of other human rights. This right is primarily about feeding oneself with dignity. However, in an exceptional scenario such as a disaster or armed conflict that af ects the ability of an individual to feed themselves with dignity, the government bears the obligation to provide food directly. In the study area, due to the current drought, which resulted in their displacement, the pastoralist communities are unable to feed themselves with dignity. Thus, the thesis assesses the extent to which the right to adequate food is realized in the study area. It assesses whether and to what degree the government has discharged its obligation to realize the right to adequate food for pastoralist communities in drought situations. To achieve this objective, the study has employed a blend of doctrinal and empirical legal research methodologies using a qualitative research design. The finding reveals that food is not available in the study area. Even the limited emergency food aid provided to the IDPs does not fulfill the core contents of the right to adequate food availability, adequacy, and accessibility. Also, there is a prevalence of malnutrition and hunger crises in the selected IDPs camp. The absence of early warning, failure to declare a state of emergency, and lack of prioritization in addressing emergencies are among the factors found to be af ecting the realization of the right to adequate food in the study area. The research concludes that in the study area, recurring droughts are the consequence of natural disasters, whereas hunger resulting from drought is a manifestation of the state's failure to fulfill at the very least, the minimum core obligation to ensure the right to be free from hunger. The thesis recommends, among other things, declaring a state of emergency, adopting a human rights approach to emergencies, and prioritizing resources to ensure the right to