Problem
Famine
Other Names:
Dependence on famineLack of food
Insufficient food supply
Food poverty
Food deprivation
Nature:
The major causes of famine are poverty, trade barriers, corruption, mismanagement, ethnic antagonism, anarchy, war, and male-dominated societies that deprive women of food. Local land depletion, itself a consequence of poverty and institutional failure, is also a factor. Those who are too poor to use sound farming practices are compelled to overexploit the resources on which they depend.
The problem of famine is manifold:
Incidence:
The African continent in the mid 1980's suffered from famines on a scale never before witnessed. As of April 1985, 10 million people had abandoned their normal homes in search of food and water; 20 countries had been critically affected by drought; and 35 million lives were in danger.
Since the 1990's, notable famines have been man-made and in war zones like Somalia, Sudan, North Korea, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Tajikistan, and Sierra Leone.
Broader Problems:
Food insecurity Natural disastersCountries in crisisHealth hazards of war Narrower Problems:
Man-made famineSeasonal malnutrition Aggravates:
HungerBeggarsStarvationCivil disordersHuman cannibalismHigh mortality rateUncontrolled migrationProtein-energy malnutritionEnvironmentally induced diseases Reduced By:
Agricultural overproductionStrategies:
Monitoring food securityImproving quality of human lifeExploiting global biological resources for new foodsReducing meat consumption to conserve grainAccumulating global food stocksProviding food aidResearching causes of starvationIncreasing global food productionUsing famineReducing famineReducing incidence of malnutrition Organizations:
World Peace Institute, Reston VASpecial Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa (SEAF)Famine Early Warning System (FEWS)Action Against HungerAlliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (AAHM)Hunger ProjectWorld Community Fund Against HungerAlliance to End HungerCatholic Committee Against Hunger and for Development (CCFD-Terre Solidaire)Congressional Hunger Center (CHC)Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO)Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in AfricaPresbyterian Hunger Program (PHP)Stop Hunger NowUnited Against Hunger (UAH)WelthungerhilfeWorld Hunger Education Service (WHES)World Hunger Year (WHY)Mercy Corps International (MCI)CARE InternationalOxfam InternationalInternational Rescue Committee (IRC)World Health Organization (WHO)Bread for the World Institute (BFW Institute)Freedom from HungerUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Save the Children InternationalJubilee International Movement for Economic and Social Justice (JMI)ProgressioInnovations for Poverty Action (IPA)Concern Worldwide References:
Collins, Joseph and Lappe, Frances M: World Hunger: twelve mythsLawrence, Peter: World Recession and the Food Crisis in AfricaWalker, Peter: Famine Early Warning Systems: victims and destitutionAction Against Hunger: Geopolitics of Hunger, 2000-2001: Hunger and power Web Page(s):
United Nations World Food ProgrammeInternational Food Policy Research Institute
Famines
What is famine, and how can we stop it?
Food insecurity and famine
Why 20 Million People Are on Brink of Famine in a ‘World of Plenty’
The phenomenon of famine
5 things you think you know about famine, and the actual facts
Responding to the threat of famine
FIGHTING FAMINE
Famine Early Warning Systems Network
THE POLITICS OF FAMINE IN ETHIOPIA
FIGHTING FAMINE
Famine & Drought
Famine
Famine Action Mechanism (FAM)
Famine and hunger
Famine and disease
International Medical Corps: HUNGER, DROUGHT AND FAMINE RISK
Earth Institute Columbia University: Researchers Say an 1800s Global Famine Could Happen Again
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Subject(s):
Amenities → FoodAmenities → Undernourishment
Commerce → Purchasing, supplying
Societal Problems → Dependence
Societal Problems → Deprivation
Societal Problems → Scarcity
Society → Disadvantaged
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
C: Cross-sectoral problems Date of last update
04.09.2019 – 19:55 CEST