The Causes of Famine?
Famine occurs in a world that has more than enough food to feed all its
citizens. Famine is commonly defined as "acute starvation associated with increase in
the morality".1 Famine therefore reflects not absolute food scarcity but rather people's
lack of access to resources. This essay will discuss the underlying causes of Famine in
contemporary world. Examples would be taken from African region as well as sub-
Saharan countries and South Asia. This essay will discuss famine thesis, within a
widespread theoretical framework of Allen, T's work and will evaluate what could be
done to overcome the myth of famine. The focus of this essay will be both historical
and thematic.
What are the causes of famine? Many people think that famine is always
caused by environmental factors; however, this is not the case for most Third world
countries, such as Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Malawi, and Ethiopia. Famine can be
defined as a natural or man-made disaster in these countries.2 By looking at the
people, the land, and the history in each country, a comparison will be made about the
causes and effects of famine.
Famine has become a worldwide phenomenon: dearth and starvation are
striking in all major regions of the world; sub-Saharan Africa, Northeast Brazil, South
Asia and the former Soviet Union. What are the underlying causes? Recently the
global TV image spotlighted the victims of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how
Famine has begun to extend its grip on these nations. It is estimated that by 2006,
there will be overall 1.5 million deaths, as people will have lesser access to food and
resources.3 Whereas Famine in Somalia and Mozambique is ascribed to the "external"
political and climatic factors. Somalia was self-sufficient in food until the 1970s,
however, changes in the global economy since early 1980s has redefined the structure
of both industry and agriculture. The capacity to produce food is immense yet the
levels of food ...
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Famine has begun to extend its grip on these nations. It is estimated that by 2006,
there will be overall 1.5 million deaths, as people will have lesser access to food and
resources.3 Whereas Famine in Somalia and Mozambique is ascribed to the "external"
political and climatic factors. Somalia was self-sufficient in food until the 1970s,
however, changes in the global economy since early 1980s has redefined the structure
of both industry and agriculture. The capacity to produce food is immense yet the
levels of food consumption remain exceedingly low.
Overall 20 million people are affected by famine in Southern Africa and 20
million of those live in Malawi.
Famine in contemporary world is not an abrupt event, nor an immediate,
inevitable outcome of drought or other climatic misfortunes. Rather research on the
history of famine shows that several factors typically contribute to a society's or
regions vulnerability to starvation, and that some of the causes of famine has
changed significantly over the past century. Some basic facts are: 1st, it is mostly
children who die, followed by men; women's greater biological makes them most
likely to survive prolonged food deprivation.4 2nd, the stamina makes the primary
cause of death not starvation, but diseases, impulsive wars, border disputes, diversity
in communities and economic sanctions. 3rd, famine not only increases morality rates
but also decreases fertility. 4th, famine is typically rural; this is the case in most Sub-
Saharan countries. 5th, the reported mortality rates from 3rd world are inaccurate, due
partly to the difficulties of collecting such information, but also the governments
tendency to exaggerate figures in order to get more donor support. 5
Many independent governments have proven unaccountable in explaining
why famine still occurs in 21st century. This however is partly due to war and arms
trade. After the oil, arms is world's second largest industry. Developed countries
devote $500 billion annually to arms and $50billion to development aid, which is a
further cause of poverty, misery and hunger. Examples could be taken from, south
Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa where despite having 800 million living in poverty;
more money is spent on arms.6 In Nigeria, one of the worst famines occurred during
the 1967-1970 civil war as, the federal government of Nigeria blocked all food
shipments to Biafra, consequently resulting in wide spread starvation. In 1993, siege
brought famine to parts of war-torn Angola. And in Sudan's long-running civil war
society famine reached its peak in 1998, killing more then 250,000.7 In 1999 the
ongoing border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea saw 10,000 of deaths on each
side followed by the dearth and starvation, as most of Ethiopia's and Eritrea's
expenditure was spent on defence, leaving both countries in one of its most vulnerable
positions. On-going wars make people more prone to famine: it destroys market
centres and transport links (Iraq), stops the cultivation of lands (Eritrea, Tigray,
Angola), turns ordinary people into refugees (Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon,
Mozambique, Palestine) and brings about long-term economic decline, as the
infrastructure is destroyed and foreign investment collapses.
The most common and important cause of famine is drought. In 2000,
Ethiopia faced one of the worst droughts in its history, leading to shortage of food,
medicine and by May of 2000 it appeared that an entire generation of children was
battling to stay alive.8
Another reason for famine is the burden of debt repayments facing many of
the poorest nations. Developing nations debt stands over $2 Trillion.9 The problem
does not lay with the amount owned but the ability to make payments as the fall due.
Many developing nations are paying their debts with the health, welfare and lives of
the people.
No free press also leads to famine. The number of poor countries with a free
press is very rare. Citizens of such countries have to put up with the endless
propaganda about the achievements of the government. The climate of public opinion
in China is one reason why famine is a thing of the past there.
Famine is also caused by No safety nets in developing nations. Despite the
occurrence of natural disasters, famine could be prevented at the last minute by
having an adequate toad-security system in place when drought comes.
The analysis in causes of famine in contemporary world is based on three
main premises. First, famine is largely a failure of functions, policies and
organizations. Secondly, famine typically occurs on a fragile, degrading resource
base, which then interacts with economic, social and demographic policies. Third, the
causes of famine are diverse and there is also immense diversity in potential policy
response to famine. In conclusion, famine is largely a result of military conflicts on-
going economic sanctions, impulsive wars on countries all contribute to the mortality
rates and deprivation, however, viewing conflict as the primary cause of famine is
also misplaced, in majority cases, famine arises from chronic poverty. Although
famine differs from by country, the underlying conditions that contribute to famine
are similar: lack of employment, low levels of farm technology and poor health
facilities, drought, crop failures and climatic changes.
While "eternal" climatic variable plays a role in triggering off a famine
and heightening the social impacts of drought, famines in the age of globalisation are
man-made. They are not a consequence of 'a food scarcity' but of structure of global
oversupply, which undermines food security and destroys national food agriculture.
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7 David. Keen, The benefits of Famine: a political economy of relief and famine in Sudan, 1983-1984, p.92
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