The African Starvation Crisis
... bring help into Africa, it seems as though the rate of those in danger of starvation grows too fast for anyone to try to stop it, let alone slow it down. The many causes of famine all coupled together creates a problem almost completely out of control of any government. One of the causes that is most effective is conflict. Though it may not seem as if it directly affects the people’s hunger, it does in fact lead to some of the worst conditions that are barely livable. Many of the people many be used to having little or no food, but have previously found ways to acquire food, whether it be by gathering it from a forest or finding another workplace. The people are so out of place they sometimes can not even relate to the cultures in other countries. Conflict also “turns ordinary people into refugees. In Mozambique there are over four million internally displaced people with a further 1.2 million living as refugees in neighboring countries.” People forced out of their homes are left without jobs or money, and must try to survive on what little they can find in a country they had never set foot in. The economic results of conflict are also devastating- the “long-term economic decline” that results from a country’s internal conflict has consequences for all the people, especially for those already suffering in poverty and near-death starvation (7 ). Another cause of starvation in Africa is the number of uncured diseases floating through the populations to no extent. AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria seem to be the three most life-threatening diseases at the moment. More than six million people annually lay on their deathbed in Africa because of these three diseases. Those too weak to work sell their belongings to obtain money for food, as they can no longer work in their fields. “Even healthy farmers often must cut back of time spent in the fields because they are needed to care for sick family members.” It is said that AIDS/HIV is taking some of the most “productive members, weakening African agriculture and the overall economy.” It is in fact the reason why agricultural production in Africa is declining. With eleven million African children already left alone because the deadly disease took their parents, it is expected that more than twenty million orphans will be accounted for in the next decade (9 ). AIDS is not the only disease active in Africa, only the most noticeable. Tuberculosis, malaria, and even polio threaten the lives of starving African people (2 ). Besides conflict and disease, others reflect on the other issues that could be a part of the famine brought to Africa. Some think that poor government decisions of the past put money where it shouldn’t have gone-to emergency food and water rather than to “a long-term solution such as irrigation” (3 ). Also, flooding is a major cause of famine. After a flood washes through, crops are damaged and inedible. Even if the thick clay soil allows some crops to be grown, it will be washed away in a matter of months. Though it may not seem like it, countries all over the world are doing the best they can to assist Africa in becoming a more stable, efficient continent. ACT (Action by Churches Together) is working to provide help to Ertitreans. The Lutheran World Service, Norwegian Church Aid and Dutch Inter-Church Aid are all partners of ACT, and hope to give nearly 100,000 Eritreans emergency food, clean water, shelter, and replacement livestock to begin new lives (1 ). ACT also asked for help from various charities around the world. One response they got was from Week of Compassion, who agreed...