Famine

A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including war, natural disasters, crop failure, population imbalance, widespread poverty, an economic catastrophe or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every inhabited continent in the world has experienced a period of famine throughout history. In the 19th and 20th century, generally characterized Southeast and South Asia, as well as Eastern and Central Europe, in terms of having suffered most number of deaths from famine. The numbers dying from famine began to fall sharply from the 2000s. Since 2010, Africa has been the most affected continent of famine in the world.

Read more in the app

1930s Famine Continued to Affect Ukrainian Health 7 Decades Later

Famine Drove Jamestown Settlers to Eat Native Dogs, DNA Reveals

The Famine Developing in Gaza Follows a Clear Pattern

Seaweed could save a billion people from famine after a nuclear war

M. S. Swaminathan, Scientist Who Helped Conquer Famine in India, Dies at 98

Soaring cost of fertilizers will make food much more expensive this year | You think food is already expensive? The worst may be yet to come -- soaring fertilizer price could leave millions in famine.

Cereal crops and fish currently used to feed livestock could provide food for 1 billion people and help tackle famine

Nuclear War Could Spark Global Famine

Nuclear war would cause global famine with more than five billion people killed, new study finds

Nuclear war would cause a global famine and kill billions

Nuclear war would cause yearslong global famine

How Humans' Ability to Digest Milk Evolved from Famine and Disease

Evolution of lactose tolerance probably driven by famine and disease

Famine and disease drove the evolution of lactose tolerance in Europe

Famine and disease may have driven ancient Europeans’ lactose tolerance

Ancient Ice Reveals Scores of Gigantic Volcanic Eruptions – Causing Tsunamis, Drought, Famine, and Death