The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #163884   Message #3914755
Posted By: Senoufou
02-Apr-18 - 04:23 PM
Thread Name: BS: On the cause of Famines
Subject: RE: BS: On the cause of Famines
In addition to all the actual famines, however caused, there is also grinding poverty, which results in perpetual hunger (not necessarily starvation, but certainly malnutrition and related diseases) I should think this accounts indirectly for many millions of lives lost. I've seen it happening in Senegal, Gambia, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, all of which are reasonably viable states, but where there are countless people struggling to feed themselves and their families on practically nothing.

The sad thing is that globally there is enough food for all, if only it were to be shared out fairly, and if authoritarian states changed their regimes. I only know about Africa, but there, some governments prioritise party propaganda, military financing, self-interest and corrupt siphoning off resources for personal investments elsewhere. This is particularly the case in the Horn of Africa, but to a lesser extent in West Africa too.

For example, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo have enough agricultural and economic resources to feed vast numbers, but sadly they don't do so.