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