FAMINE AND CHRONIC HUNGER
Textbook Pg 146
Rising Food Prices Video
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxJEwC38Wsc&
feature=related
What are your initial reactions to this video clip?
Who made the video clip?
What connections can be made between this video
clip and the concepts already discussed in this unit?
Definitions:
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Hunger: Not having enough to eat to satisfy your
appetite
Malnutrition: Malnutrition means suffering a lack of
quantity and variety of food over a long period of
time.
People suffering from malnutrition may become weak
or ill, which impedes other areas of their life.
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Starvation: Starvation involves suffering from a
severe shortage of food. Starvation will eventually
lead to death if people are not able to get access
to food.
Famine: A famine is an extreme shortage of food
for a large number of people.
It can be caused by poor harvests or by food
supplies being cut off or destroyed during wars,
natural disasters etc.
Statistics to Consider
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See the WFP, World Food Programme’s website for
updated information about global hunger issues.
The WFP is the ‘food aid’ sector of the United
Nations
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
Case Study: Famine In Somalia
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVJhE-_RUaQ
Declared a famine between 2011-2012. 4 million
of the country’s nearly 10 million people experienced
food insecurity during this time. The worst famine was
seen in the southern regions of the country.
What has caused this famine?
What is preventing aid from getting to the people?
See WFP website for updated information
http://www.wfp.org/countries/somalia/overview
Let’s Compare...
FAMINE
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Tip of the iceberg
Occurs sporadically in
concentrated areas
People will die from
starvation
Attains world publicity
(News) and responses
Aid (Food and relief) is
donated
Can be anticipated and
prevented
CHRONIC PERSISTENT HUNGER
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Consistently kills people every day, worldwide
(developed and developing)
Considered ‘out of sight and out of mind’
People simply appear poor, not like in famines
People do not have opportunity to bring hunger to an end
(cyclical)
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Most severe in children because…
- Hunger erodes strength and resistance
- Causes malnutrition (lack of protein and vitamins in diet)
- Common colds and childhood diseases become the major
killers
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People affected need access to:
 education
 health care and vaccinations
 sanitation systems and clean water
 land, seeds, tools
Concluding Discussion...
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Which is more destructive, Famine or Chronic
Hunger?
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats