Factors Affecting the Severity of Famine (DP IB Geography)

Factors Affecting the Severity of Famine

• Famine is the result of an extreme lack of food

• Famine can cause extreme malnutrition, starvation and even death 

• Numerous factors affect the severity of a famine

Governance

• Some governments do not prioritise food supply in their country, resulting in a higher risk of famine

  • In Liberia, soils are perfect for agricultural production. However, there is very little access to tools and resources, so more food is imported at a higher price

  • If people can’t afford food, this results in a Food Entitlement Deficit (FED)

  • In other countries, famine would most likely not occur, as food is produced in excess e.g. in more developed countries

• Conflict and corruption can severely impact food security:

  • If corruption exists in a country, there is very little focus on economic development and providing citizens with food

  • Conflict can cause displacement; many people become refugees and have food access restrictions

  • Corrupt governments may also misuse foreign aid

  • People may have to spend their vital income on food bribes, as there is less food to go around

  • Food may be weaponised in a conflict, limiting people’s access

  • Conflicts can damage crops and kill livestock, reducing food availability 

  • If food availability goes down, this results in a Food Availability Deficit (FAD)

• How governments deal with famine also impacts the severity

  • The Great Famine of 1845 (potato famine) in Ireland resulted from potato blight

  • The British government exacerbated the famine 

    • Britain sent in grain as food support, but Ireland didn’t have enough infrastructure to process the grain

    • Poor and starving people were forced out of their homes by their British landlords as they couldn’t afford rent 

    • Exports to the rest of Britain, of meat and other high-quality food products continued throughout the famine 

Power of the media 

• Media campaigns can make people more aware of a famine situation in another country e.g. the news

  • Images of famine-stricken areas can often play with people’s emotions

  • This means that people are more likely to donate money

  • With the rise of social media, this is even more prevalent 

• Celebrities support fundraising campaigns e.g. Live Aid concerts to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia 

• Media campaigns may cover up the root cause of the issue, manipulating viewers and donors 

• Continuous media barrages may cause compassion fatigue

Aid availability

• Other countries send food aid or funding to support food shortages after conflicts or disasters 

• Governments or non-government organisations (NGOs) and charities donate money

• Aid may be provided but under certain conditions

  • This results in an uneven power complex

  • Countries become dependent on aid, making it difficult for future development

• With food aid, food supplies will naturally increase in the country

  • This lifts people out of food insecurity

  • Increased food supplies cause local food prices to go down, impacting local producers

  • Farmers may also be less inclined to produce food

• Food aid may be stopped if it is handled incorrectly

  • USAID and the World Food Programme sent food aid to Tigray in Ethiopia in 2023

  • Food was being mishandled, diverted and stolen

  • This resulted in a Food Pause, causing even more deaths

Population

• The global population is growing, resulting in the need for more food

• If the population grows in an area at risk of food shortages, this could increase the risks of famine 

• More land is used for housing instead of food production 

• Thomas Malthus, an economist and demographic theorist, stated that:

 ‘Famine will be inevitable as the population rises because food production simply cannot keep up’ 

• Although there have been many arguments against Malthusian Theory, many of Malthus’ ideas seem to make sense in less developed nations

Poverty

• In areas already facing extreme poverty, famine severity may be high

• Famers may not have access to technology to support agricultural production

  • They rely on more traditional methods, which may not be productive

• Countries may export more of their food, whilst not being able to afford to import food, resulting in food shortages

• Countries may have poor-quality transport infrastructure to distribute food 

Physical characteristics  

• Climate can impact how severe a famine may be

  • In places with warmer climates, drought is more likely to occur

  • Climate change may bring more severe droughts and reduced rainfall

  • This can impact the success of crop yields 

  • Droughts that last a long time also create a higher risk of famine

• How the land is used could also impact famine

  • Some land is converted for non-food crops e.g. food for animals or biofuels 

  • This reduces the amount of land available for food growth, possibly causing or exacerbating existing famine 

• Natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding or earthquakes can damage crops, causing severe famine