| Where does starvation exist in the world today? | | | | lead to starvation. Crops can be flooded and |
| What are some of the causes of world hunger? Are | | | | therefore destroyed, which in essence produces the |
| citizens of developed countries donating monetarily to | | | | same result as drought. In both cases, weather can |
| the ongoing relief efforts? In this article I will address | | | | produce a complete lack of self sufficiency.Military |
| these questions with the hope that by creating an | | | | conflicts, both internal and between neighboring |
| understanding of the current world hunger situation, | | | | countries, can lead to starvation. These conflicts can |
| morally conscious individuals will do their part in | | | | result in destruction of crops. Government money is |
| contributing to an eradication of this unseen | | | | directed at funding the conflict at the expense of the |
| suffering.It is a well known fact that there is enough | | | | starving people. Funds are diverted from social and |
| food in the world to feed every human being on | | | | economic development. Military conflicts can also |
| earth. Sadly, malnutrition and hunger still afflict one | | | | result in the displacement of large groups of people, |
| out of every seven people in the world today. Or, | | | | removing them from their farms and their way of |
| from a slightly different statistical perspective, the | | | | life. People can end up in refugee camps, completely |
| current world population is 4,712,200,000. The number | | | | dependent on relief aid.The causative factors of |
| of malnourished is 797,900,000. Therefore 17% of | | | | world hunger are numerous, and certain factors |
| the world population is currently malnourished or | | | | change from year to year, therefore at any given |
| starving. No matter how you examine the issue, a | | | | time, some areas may be more prone then others. |
| current crisis is at hand. Why is this so?The causes of | | | | The extent of drought, flood, internal conflicts, and |
| starvation are complex, but there are some common | | | | war with neighboring countries can vary over time. |
| threads that seem to be associated with this | | | | Therefore, these factors incorporate a variable |
| problem. First and foremost, starvation is caused by | | | | affect on the degree to which inhabitants of |
| poverty. To address the problem of world hunger | | | | susceptible countries suffer from starvation.A |
| then the problem of global poverty must be | | | | combination of these causative factors in a particular |
| addressed. Therefore, the question that we should | | | | region is a formula for disaster. When this occurs, |
| examine is what are the causes of poverty. A | | | | large scale starvation can take place. A case in point. |
| thorough discussion on the causes of global poverty | | | | The Horn of Africa has seen severe drought coupled |
| is outside the purview of this article. Entire textbooks | | | | with internal conflicts. This is leading to the |
| have been written on the subject. For our discussion, | | | | development of a tragedy. In this region currently 11 |
| it is suffice to say that one of the major causes of | | | | million people are on the brink of starvation.Historically, |
| poverty is governments pursuing policies that inhibit | | | | certain areas of the world have had a high |
| self sufficiency.Areas of starvation are also | | | | prevalence of hunger and starvation. These areas are |
| characterized by persistent problems in cultivating | | | | the central region of South America, large areas of |
| food from lack of seed, arable land, and tools. Those | | | | East, Central, and Southern Africa, and regions of |
| that can grow food, must deal with insects, drought, | | | | South Asia. As of 2006, the current hot spots, those |
| floods, and war, which can result in complete | | | | areas which are suffering the greatest degree of |
| destruction of crops. Historically, areas of Africa have | | | | starvation, are as follows:Niger: |
| experienced periodic locusts infestations, which can | | | | This area in central Africa has been struggling to |
| completely destroy crops.Other causes of world | | | | cope with the devastating impact of drought and |
| hunger are related to the globalize system of food | | | | locusts infestations.Haiti: |
| production. The globalize system of food production | | | | In this region extreme poverty has been further |
| and trade favors a reliance on export crops while | | | | exacerbated by a political crisis, floods, tropical |
| discriminating against small-scale farmers and | | | | storms, and hurricanes.Horn of Africa: |
| subsistence crops. Many third world countries export | | | | An estimated 11 million people in the Horn of Africa |
| out to much food while concomitantly not keeping | | | | "are on the brink of starvation" because of severe |
| enough food to sustain their own people.AIDS is a | | | | drought and war. Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia |
| significant cause of hunger. In societies affected by | | | | need food aid, water, new livestock and seeds. This |
| AIDS, famine is more deadly and difficult to combat. | | | | is a major hunger crisis in development.Afghanistan: |
| Why is this so? AIDS attacks the most productive | | | | Poverty in Afghanistan, made worse by drought, |
| individuals within society. Fewer productive people | | | | has contributed greatly to their hunger |
| within society means fewer individuals to work the | | | | problem.Pakistan: |
| jobs that involve food production. This is one | | | | The recent earthquake coupled with a severe winter |
| contributor to the starvation currently taking place in | | | | have produced starvation conditions. Recently, mud |
| Africa.Weather plays a major role in terms of the | | | | slides have hampered relief efforts.North Korea: |
| prevalence of starvation. Areas of drought leads to | | | | Food insecurity caused by the countries economic |
| non-useable land with subsequent famine. This is well | | | | problems, is compounded by unpredictable and |
| known. But less well known is that floods can also | | | | severe weather conditions. |