Here are some of the worst famines in the 20th century. In China between 1958 and 1962, an estimated 10 to 30 million people died as a result of Mao’s Great Leap Forward. The government was unaware of the problems and continued to export food and cut imports several years into the famine. Farmers were collectivised into communes of about 25,000 people and had to give the state a large percentage of their crops. Officials often exaggerated the size of harvests, and in many places the entire grain harvest was seized.
In the Soviet Union in 1921-22, 9 million people died because of massive crop failures due to drought. Lenin did not respond until it was too late. Again, in Ukraine in 1932-34, 8 million people died as a result of Stalin’s industrialization programme in which the government seized grain for exports. It needed the hard currency to buy industrial equipment. Stalin refused to them food aid.
Famine is often the result of:
- Climate conditions such as drought or other natural disasters such as flooding. Also soil degradation, desertification etc.
- Underdevelopment. Famine often occurs in countries with subsistence agriculture, that is, where most farming is aimed at producing just enough food energy to survive.
- Imbalance of population and food supply (over-population, sometimes as a consequence of refugee flows, in themselves the consequence of war, civil unrest, or famine elsewhere).
- War or civil unrest.
- Inadequate logistics for food distribution.
- Misguided or plain evil government policy. This is obvious from the examples above. The Great Irish Famine, 1845-1849, occurred as food was being shipped from Ireland to England because the English could afford to pay higher prices. The same thing happend during the 1973 famine in Ethiopia when food was shipped to other regions in Ethiopia because the people there could pay more. Famine is sometimes used as a tool of repressive governments as a means to eliminate opponents, as was the case in the Ukranian famine.
- Lack of democratic governance, resulting in lack of information flows and accountability. Amartya Sen stated that shortfalls in food supply do not cause widespread deaths in a democracy because vote-seeking politicians will undertake relief efforts and will be aware of the problems thanks to the freedom in their countries.
- A combination of the elements above.
It is often stated that climate change will result in more famines in the future, as a result of desertification, flooding, hurricanes etc.


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Ok.
the only problem i have with these famine and help those in need posts is the fact that (YES WE SHOULD HELP THEM, NO DOUBT)
y dont they do something about their problem as well.
Millions of kids die every year from this….
well if the parents realize this, y do they continue to have families.
That is a crime to me.
If you are in a place that is alive through torture, CUT IT OFF!
not millions
So because they are born worse of than you that doesnt entitle them to a family get off your high horse you idiot. The only way these millions of people will ever find themselves in a better situation is if clowns like yourself stop thinking like fucking retards
i dont think anyone there can see what your saying…dunno how you planned to get your comment to them buutt ok
People will always continue to have children because life is the most precious commodity, and the hope and love in the belief that one day your off spring will live a better life has got to be a thought that has propelled the human speces as far as it has come. If people in adversity just gave up on life, being human would mean nothing.
I am also sickened at the idea of a world where all the races of humans that those who-have-it-all couldn’t be bothered to help, had no other choice than to end their bloodlines, then and there, and leave the world to the future off-springs of the fat have-it-alls. What you are talking about Jonathan is voluntary genocide. you make me sick and I think selfish attitudes like yours are a crime.
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famine is such a big crisis why don’t we just get out there and help these people cant un or something go and talk to their government or give out more foreign aid. i know its hard to do with money and all but can’t they come together and think of something.
because anonymous a lot of people out there are trying to neglect it and just let those who are suffering die. plus they do give foreign aid but you can’t undertake this crisis all at once there is so many things you have to do, like donations and volunteers. That’s why its not being treated fully yet and by the looks of things it only going to get worse.
more info on famine
where???
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sorry my name is odnoo. I live in mongolia. I’m regret. I can to render help to those in need. pls reply
tough luck
I feel sorry for them ………… NOT
YOU ARE A SICK MAN
i feel really sorry for them because if the country never changed that would be us.
the person who said you didnt feel sorry for them you are a selfish spoilt person.
how can watch these people suffer we have t0 help!!
I cannot believe some of the comments how can you not feel sorry for them, they are going through much pain and you do not care. I think we should be helping them.
Thank you all for the comments. And remember, if everyone of us would care, there wouldn’t be famines, and there wouldn’t be blogposts on which to write outrageous comments…
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am wondering ppl do not fear to say sth stupid. pls pls think think. specially those who do not have compassion.
I think this is awful!
when i look at it i want to cry
how did the world end up like this?
why does God do this?
i wish i had the will power to help!
How dare question Gods power in this, there is famine because there are selfish individuals out there who are more interested in which chloe bag to get next or which mobile phone to buy for a x-mas present! Consumerism and selfish nature caused this especially because people fail to open their eyes to see what is really going on in this world and would rather open their eyes to watch vain individuals on X-factor! I really do believe even if nothing physically can be done for people going through famine at least a word of prayer would make a difference, if you believe it or not!!
no comment
then don’t write anything!
Yeah, because saying some words to yourself is REALLY helpful.
i agree some people dont relise that they can help and if they think about it they can make a lot of differeence
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That picture is horrible
life’s horrible
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that is a real child? it just looks like a skeletan :( i do feel bad i want to help especially about that it makes me so sad
Mangolicious is right about that 10 up we ppl have to do something because it is really sad and will help alot. and god did make the world but he didnt make selfish ppl and no food he gave the world to everyone and everyone made it like it is now. Like all the polution is our falt
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test
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we should help have to their are to many selfish people in dis world may god bless dem
someone get this kid a bigmac
super size ♫19£¼18╢═ö4
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I dunno. The more we spend money on games and trash for entertainment, this happens. It’s not going to stop. No one’s this sympathetic to lend a penny to the need.
God is never the one to blame. He isn’t the one spending point millions on entertainment and pornography. We are supposed to be caring for each other, not making one another starve. Maybe the next time you want to watch a girl get done by an animal or ordering a perverted and graphic video game online , think of this picture. Hope you still keep spending mindlessly.
if you really want to help people who are starving there are a few easy things you can do.
1) stop driving your car so much!! (climate change is a major contributor to desertification which destroys arable land so the thousands of people who rely on subsistance farming can no longer grow the food they so desperately need)
2) donate some cash to heifer international (they give people animals which not only feed them but help them to become self sufficient and gives them some food sustainability)
3) educate those around you about the many crises and maybe pick one that you find important and advocate for those in need
PLEASE USE YOUR MINDS AND HEARTS WISELY, AND REMEMBER,
“THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I”
fuck