The Famine Epidemic: The Famine In Yemen

A famine is an acute episode of extreme hunger that results in excess mortality due to starvation or hunger-induced diseases. The IPC has set up guidelines stating that in order for a food insecurity situation to be declared a famine it must meet three specific criteria: At least one in five households faces an extreme lack of food, more than 30 percent of the population is suffering from acute malnutrition (wasting), at least two people out of every 10,000 are dying each day. Despite popular belief that famines are due to environmental factors, famines have become increasingly “man-made” phenomena involving more political causes, especially non-democratic governments and the conflict surrounding them. During times of war and political unease, famine was used as an intentional part of political or military strategy. In Ó Gráda’s, “Famine: A Short History,” he argues that most famines in human history result more from human action, or rather inaction, than from the failure of natural resources to provide for humanity. Famine is often the result of war, whether it be as an instrument of war or as a part of the lack of resources in the aftermath. Most of the deaths during famine are not attributed to literal starvation, but rather by succumbing to infectious disease or other illnesses. The absence of markets or the presence of poorly governed markets can contribute to the lack of food. Transport between countries in crisis and surrounding areas becomes more difficult, making food even scarcer.

Famines are less common today due to the increasing availability of food per person because of larger agricultural yields. We also have better healthcare and sanitation as well as increased trade, reduced food prices, and a reduction in the number of people living in extreme poverty. This fall became apparent during the twentieth century with lower transportation costs, better communication as a result of improved technologies, a better understanding of nutrition and medicine, an significant increase in the number of international famine relief organizations, lower food storage costs, the making of cheap and easy to produce and transport foods, and the expansion of democracy around the world. Famines are usually caused by multiple factors, often starting with poor (or even intentionally bad) policy decisions that make people vulnerable to crisis. Famine strikes when these shortcomings are not addressed. Politically charged failure stems from military actions often from authoritarian politics, put into action without regard to the wellbeing or even the survival of people.

The famine in Yemen is primarily caused by the war between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the leading parties of the Arab coalition, against the Houthi rebels who control most of northern Yemen, including Hudaydah. United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, sought to bring aid to the country and urged donors to send money. Many sent aid but relief could not reach the citizens in need because of the ongoing conflict and much of the relief that was sent was spent on military uses. The Saudi-led coalition had begun an intense attack on the Houthi in September to take Hudaydah from their control. The fighting went on until December before a truce, delegated by the UN, was signed promising the withdraw of troops. When troops still did not leave tensions spiked again and violent flare-ups continued. If no agreement could be reached many feared that Yemen could slide into even worse fighting which would ultimately lead to a catastrophic famine.

Famine continues due to poor political decisions as well as political unease within countries, lack of availability of resources, and the inability to transport resources into a country. The famine in Yemen is an example of how all these factors can play into a possibly catastrophic famine crisis, and why for especially poor and undemocratic countries, famine is still a very real fear. The independent variable in my hypothesis is the factors that contribute to famines, such as war, crop failure, inability to transport outside aid into the country, and the rampant illnesses that result from malnutrition. The dependent variable is the famine itself, it is the result of the shortcomings of a country and is reliant on the factors listed. Famine, while less severe and less likely than in previous centuries or even decades, is still a plaguing threat particularly when wars still rage.