1. World Issues: Drought and Famine Mr. Johnston 9th Grade Global Studies

2. Images of Drought

3. What is Drought?
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region has a considerable shortage in its water supply whether surface or underground water.
Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation.
It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region.
Although droughts can persist for several years, even a short, intense drought can cause significant damage and harm the local economy.

4. Natural Causes of Drought
Natural causes of drought are…
Lack of substantial Rainfall,
Environmental changes (natural disasters),
Severe weather patterns (such as el Niño),
and Global Warming trends

5. Human Causes of Drought
Human activity can directly trigger exacerbating factors such as
over farming (soil no longer fertile),
excessive irrigation (redirecting water),
deforestation (removal of trees and vegetation),
destruction or poisoning of water source (war/conflict),
and erosion adversely impact the ability of the land to capture and hold water.

6. UN/International Reaction to Drought
Since drought leads directly to famine, the United Nations has reacted typically with the World Food Program (WFP)
United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
the world's largest humanitarian agency, provides food to more than ninety million people in eighty countries. WFP is the food aid branch of the United Nations. The WFP basically…
Provides food, water, and medical aid to those affected by Famine.
Provides agricultural/farming training, equipment, and the necessary fertilizers to prevent future famines.

7. UN/International Reaction to Drought
United Nations and International Aid groups have advised/enacted strategies to help against future droughts:
Dams and Water Reservoirs (contain water)
Cloud seeding (make it rain)
Water recycling from waste (recycling)
Desalination of sea water (another source of water)
Irrigation (providing water for crops to grow)

8. Famine

9. The Faces of Famine in Africa

10. What is Famine?
Extreme and protracted shortage of food, resulting in widespread hunger and a substantial increase in the death rate.
General famines affect all classes or groups in the region of food shortage;
class famines affect some classes or groups much more severely than others;
regional famines affect only a particular region of a country.

11. What Causes Famine? Causes may be natural or human.
Natural causes included:
drought, flooding, unfavorable weather conditions, plant disease, and insect infestation.
Human causes included:
war, overpopulation, faulty distribution systems, high food prices, and Cash Crops/Subsistence Farming.

12. Cash Crops
Cash Crops:
Cash Crops became popular with subjects of the European powers during the Age of Imperialism.
Farmers would grow non-food related crops, in the process only practicing subsistence crops (enough food to feed the family), to sell to the wealthy Europeans.
When food shortages would happen, the subsistence farming did not provide for the population as a whole. Starvation would or could run rampant.
Cash Crops of the 1800’s to 1900’s were usually Tobacco, Tea, Opium, Coca, Cotton, Rubber, etc…
Many Cash Crops today are Opium, Coca, and Cannabis.

13. What were the worst famines in history?
Three of the worst famines (food shortages) in history were:
the Great Famine of Bengal, India, that took place in 1769,
the Great Irish Famine that began in 1845,
and the Chinese Famine of 1878.

14. Irish Potato Famine
Although not so devastating, the Great Irish Famine is probably the most famous in history.
This famine was the result of a potato blight (a disease caused by fungus).
Because Irish farmers sold their grain to earn money, they depended on the potato crops as food until the next harvest.
However, because the potato crop failed three years in a row (1845–48), between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people died of starvation. Another 2,000,000 people left Ireland to escape the famine, many emigrating (permanently settling) to the United States.

15. Great India Famine
During the Great Famine of Bengal a total of 10,000,000 people died of starvation.
The famine was caused by an intense drought and crop failure; and made worse by the large number of Cash Crops.

16. Great Chinese Famine of 1878
During the famine, 15 million Chinese are believed to have died of starvation.
The famine was caused by a series of natural disasters and poor planning from the Chinese Government to ensure enough food was produced.

17. The Human Cost Several severe famines occurred in the 20th century,
China
1928 – 29, at least 3 million dead
1959 – 61, 15 – 30 million dead
U.S.S.R.
1921, more than 5 million dead
1932 – 33, 6 – 8 million dead
India
1943 – 44, 1.5 million dead
Cambodia
1975 – 79, 1 million dead
North Korea
1995 – 99, 2.5 million dead

18. The Human Cost Several severe famines occurred in the 21st century…
Somalia (2006, 2008, 2011)
Ethiopia (2000, 2006, 2008, 2011)
Kenya (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)
Sudan/Darfur Region (2003)
North Korea (2008)
Zimbabwe (2000 to 2009)
Niger (2005 to 2006)

19. Famine in Africa

20. United Nations World Food Program (WFP)

21. UN/International Reaction to Famine
United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
the world's largest humanitarian agency, provides food to more than ninety million people in eighty countries. WFP is the food aid branch of the United Nations. The WFP basically…
Provides food, water, and medical aid to those affected by Famine.
Provides agricultural/farming training, equipment, and the necessary fertilizers to prevent future famines.

22. World Health Organization

23. UN/International Reaction to Famine
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health.
teaching,
Water desalination, water purification, food preservation, crop rotation, etc..

24. World Issues
How can you help to stop Famine in the world? In a world where one country can produce enough food to eat to excess like these two children…
Then in that same world
how could we stop images
of suffering like this?