Starvation

A forbidden method of warfare consisting in deliberately depriving civilian persons of food. It is, for example, prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works, etc., for the specific purpose of denying them their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse party, in order to starve civilians, cause them to move away, or for any other motive. These prohibitions do not apply if the objects covered are used by an adverse party (a) as sustenance solely for the members of its armed forces; (b) in direct support of military action, with certain provisions. These objects must not be made the object of reprisals. In recognition of the vital requirements of any party to the conflict in the defence of its national territory against invasion, derogation of the above prohibitions may be made by a party to the conflict within such territory under its own control where required by imperative military necessity.   See Methods of warfare; Objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population;  

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