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