In a study conducted in the USA, it was stated that more than 5 billion people could die of starvation within two years as a result of a possible nuclear war between Russia and the USA.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on since February 24.
While the war of the two countries affected the whole world, a new research was conducted in the United States of America (USA).
Using computer simulations, researchers at Rutgers University predicted the consequences of a possible nuclear war between the United States and Russia.
Scientists have revealed that fires caused by nuclear bombs will release soot into the upper atmosphere, and this will result in the prevention of the Sun’s rays from reaching the earth.
Billions of people will be affected
Experts, who stated that crop growth on earth would be largely prevented by the closure of the sun, calculated that billions of people would starve to death following the resulting famine.
“We must prevent nuclear war from happening”
The lead author of the study, published in the scientific journal Nature Food, Prof. Dr. Lili Xiai “The data clearly tells us that we must prevent a nuclear war from happening.” he said.
However, the researchers stated that they base their calculations on the size of each country’s nuclear arsenal.
Putin’s nuclear threat
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov a few days after the start of the war with Ukraine.
At the meeting, he ordered that the Russian army’s deterrent forces, including nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles, be placed in a special warfare state.
Nuclear weapons numbers of countries
It is estimated that there are 6,255 items in the nuclear weapons inventory, which Putin ordered to put into a special warfare state. It is stated that of the 6 thousand 65 nuclear weapons held by the Western Bloc, 5,550 are in the hands of the USA, 290 are in the hands of France, and 225 are in the hands of the UK.
The effects of nuclear war It will last for 400 years
Scientists say that even a minor conflict between nuclear states will reduce food production and result in widespread starvation. “Community Earth System Model” Developed a forecasting tool.
With this tool, the scientists estimated the effects on maize, rice, spring wheat and soybeans on a country-by-country basis. The researchers also examined predicted changes in livestock and fisheries.
The study’s authors reported that in the event of a domestic war between India and Pakistan, the global population’s calories from agricultural and livestock products would decrease by an average of seven percent over five years.
In the worst scenario of nuclear war, involving the USA and Russia, it was observed that the amount of calories consumed by the global population from these products decreased by 90 percent for 300 to 400 years after the end of the war.
The scientists stressed that the declines in crop production will be most severe in mid-high latitude countries, including major exporters such as Russia and the USA.
More than 5 billion people will starve to death within two years
On the other hand, according to the outcome estimates of the nuclear war scenario between the USA and Russia, it was reported that after such a war, more than 5 billion people, who make up more than 75 percent of the planet, would starve to death within two years. According to the World Bank’s 2020 data, there are 7,753 billion people living on earth.
“Banning nuclear weapons is the only solution”
On the other hand, co-author of the study Prof. Dr. Alan Robock said a nuclear war of any size would destroy global food systems and kill billions in the process.
roboc, “The world has been on the brink of nuclear war several times. Banning nuclear weapons is the only long-term solution. The five-year UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty has been ratified by 66 countries, but none of the nine nuclear countries have.
Our study makes it clear that the time has come for these nine states to listen to science and the rest of the world and sign this agreement.” made its assessment.
