In 1943 an estimated 3 to 5 million people died in China's Henan Province as a result of starvation caused by World War II (1939-1945).

In the 20th century the Sahel region of Africa has been struck by famine several times. North and South America have been relatively free of large-scale famines. Europe has suffered only occasionally, although during World War II hundreds of thousands died from starvation.

II. Effects

The human body can adapt fairly well to a reduction in the intake of nutrients. Cutting the intake by half will reduce body weight by about one-fourth, but a person may subsist at this level for some time without experiencing adverse health effects. Any additional drop in intake, however, can be dangerous. Starvation is only one of the possible results; equally serious are diseases that successfully attack an undernourished body.

Long-term effects are also serious. Adults can generally recover successfully from a period of famine, but children may suffer permanent physical and mental damage from undernourishment at a vulnerable time of rapid growth.

III. Relief Organisations


Relief organisations for the aid of famine victims are fairly recent inventions. The International Red Cross, founded in Switzerland in 1864, mobilises relief efforts both within and between countries. Religious and other private agencies also provide relief, and aid is provided by many countries including the United States, Canada, and European nations.

After World War II the shortcomings of these individual programs' abilities to alleviate starvation became obvious. The establishment of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in 1945 was followed by the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to co-ordinate international famine relief efforts. Other United Nations agencies assist the FAO in its attempts to prevent disasters caused by inadequate food supplies.

IV. Prospects

Predictions of chronic conditions that may result in famine have not always been correct. In the 1930s and 1940s predictions indicated that China would be plagued by famine by the late 20th century. In the 1950s and 1960s the Indian subcontinent was singled out as a region losing the ability to feed its burgeoning population. Yet China has succeeded in feeding its people; national attention to equity, agriculture, and birth control have significantly reduced the threat of famine. In India, the so-called green revolution, characterised by the introduction of high-yield grain crops and increased use of fertilisers and irrigation, has greatly increased food production.