| Where does starvation exist in the world today? What | | | | to starvation. Crops can be flooded and therefore |
| are some of the causes of world hunger? Are citizens | | | | destroyed, which in essence produces the same result |
| of developed countries donating monetarily to the | | | | as drought. In both cases, weather can produce a |
| ongoing relief efforts? In this article I will address these | | | | complete lack of self sufficiency.Military conflicts, both |
| questions with the hope that by creating an | | | | internal and between neighboring countries, can lead to |
| understanding of the current world hunger situation, | | | | starvation. These conflicts can result in destruction of |
| morally conscious individuals will do their part in | | | | crops. Government money is directed at funding the |
| contributing to an eradication of this unseen suffering.It | | | | conflict at the expense of the starving people. Funds |
| is a well known fact that there is enough food in the | | | | are diverted from social and economic development. |
| world to feed every human being on earth. Sadly, | | | | Military conflicts can also result in the displacement of |
| malnutrition and hunger still afflict one out of every | | | | large groups of people, removing them from their |
| seven people in the world today. Or, from a slightly | | | | farms and their way of life. People can end up in |
| different statistical perspective, the current world | | | | refugee camps, completely dependent on relief aid.The |
| population is 4,712,200,000. The number of | | | | causative factors of world hunger are numerous, and |
| malnourished is 797,900,000. Therefore 17% of the | | | | certain factors change from year to year, therefore at |
| world population is currently malnourished or starving. | | | | any given time, some areas may be more prone then |
| No matter how you examine the issue, a current crisis | | | | others. The extent of drought, flood, internal conflicts, |
| is at hand. Why is this so?The causes of starvation | | | | and war with neighboring countries can vary over time. |
| are complex, but there are some common threads | | | | Therefore, these factors incorporate a variable affect |
| that seem to be associated with this problem. First and | | | | on the degree to which inhabitants of susceptible |
| foremost, starvation is caused by poverty. To address | | | | countries suffer from starvation.A combination of |
| the problem of world hunger then the problem of | | | | these causative factors in a particular region is a |
| global poverty must be addressed. Therefore, the | | | | formula for disaster. When this occurs, large scale |
| question that we should examine is what are the | | | | starvation can take place. A case in point. The Horn of |
| causes of poverty. A thorough discussion on the | | | | Africa has seen severe drought coupled with internal |
| causes of global poverty is outside the purview of this | | | | conflicts. This is leading to the development of a |
| article. Entire textbooks have been written on the | | | | tragedy. In this region currently 11 million people are on |
| subject. For our discussion, it is suffice to say that one | | | | the brink of starvation.Historically, certain areas of the |
| of the major causes of poverty is governments | | | | world have had a high prevalence of hunger and |
| pursuing policies that inhibit self sufficiency.Areas of | | | | starvation. These areas are the central region of |
| starvation are also characterized by persistent | | | | South America, large areas of East, Central, and |
| problems in cultivating food from lack of seed, arable | | | | Southern Africa, and regions of South Asia. As of |
| land, and tools. Those that can grow food, must deal | | | | 2006, the current hot spots, those areas which are |
| with insects, drought, floods, and war, which can result | | | | suffering the greatest degree of starvation, are as |
| in complete destruction of crops. Historically, areas of | | | | follows:Niger: |
| Africa have experienced periodic locusts infestations, | | | | This area in central Africa has been struggling to cope |
| which can completely destroy crops.Other causes of | | | | with the devastating impact of drought and locusts |
| world hunger are related to the globalize system of | | | | infestations.Haiti: |
| food production. The globalize system of food | | | | In this region extreme poverty has been further |
| production and trade favors a reliance on export crops | | | | exacerbated by a political crisis, floods, tropical storms, |
| while discriminating against small-scale farmers and | | | | 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 is |
| AIDS, famine is more deadly and difficult to combat. | | | | a major hunger crisis in development.Afghanistan: |
| Why is this so? AIDS attacks the most productive | | | | Poverty in Afghanistan, made worse by drought, has |
| individuals within society. Fewer productive people | | | | contributed greatly to their hunger problem.Pakistan: |
| within society means fewer individuals to work the | | | | The recent earthquake coupled with a severe winter |
| jobs that involve food production. This is one | | | | have produced starvation conditions. Recently, mud |
| contributor to the starvation currently taking place in | | | | slides have hampered relief efforts.North Korea: |
| Africa.Weather plays a major role in terms of the | | | | Food insecurity caused by the countries economic |
| prevalence of starvation. Areas of drought leads to | | | | problems, is compounded by unpredictable and severe |
| non-useable land with subsequent famine. This is well | | | | weather conditions. |
| known. But less well known is that floods can also lead | | | | |