Famine Relief and Prevention

Natural disasters including floods, tropical storms and long periods of drought can have dire consequences for food security in poor, developing countries. According to the World Food Programme, drought is now the single most common cause of food shortages in the world.

There are clear links between food shortages and poverty: the poorest people tend to be worst affected and suffer the most. This is because the capacity to cope and to reduce risk is much more limited in poor countries so people are more vulnerable. Impacts on communities can be severe: disasters such as drought increase poverty and malnutrition and reduce disease resistance. The impact on families can lead to children being sent out to work rather than to school, and household members, particularly women and girls, left with poorer health and an increased workload.

The distribution of food aid is a common response to chronic hunger and acute hunger in emergencies. In 2005, over 30 million people in Africa needed food aid to meet their immediate needs. However, to have a sustained effect food aid needs to be part of a broader programme to reduce vulnerability and maintain food security.

Disaster risk reduction programmes aim to lessen the effects of persistent food shortages and prevent widespread famines with measures to curb disaster losses by addressing hazards and people’s vulnerability to them. Programmes encompass: investment in water management, marketing and transport infrastructure; industrial development; social protection; risk awareness and assessment; education, training, research and information; appropriate institutional frameworks; public policy; environmental management; Early warning systems - forecasting, disseminating warnings, preparedness measures and improving capacity to react.