For those who have not had trouble getting up for a sandwich during the last few decades, it might come as a surprise that food has become scarce in some spots. Food production can be driven down by weather-induced problems (drought, grasshoppers responding directly to heat, locusts responding to altered air mass movement and rainfall, these and other weather-dependent pests can expand ranges, etc.), even in North America or Australia (is this news?). In Africa, it is more easily ignored. Weather-related famine keeps West Africa on the edge, and this may just get worse under the projections. And if someone gives you the tripe that it is all about distribution, just laugh. I was there, beginning in 1988-89, when the drought and locusts came back, the first of many.

Famine in Niger and Mali

Earth Observatory maps ; Visible earth

"Images of starving children have once again turned the attention of the international community to Africa. Food shortages have left more than 2.5 million people in need of food aid in Niger, where over 20 percent of the population is suffering life-threatening malnutrition. Niger’s western neighbor, Mali, is facing similar food shortages, with as many as 2.2 million hungry by UN estimates. Mauritania has also been affected. The current famine throughout western Africa is a result of drought and locusts decimating crops in 2004. The seeds of famine were evident in satellite imagery acquired in July 2004. Streaks of brown in the top image reveal where drought thinned crops across the western Sahel..."

21/07/2005 - "Up to a third of Niger's population suffers from food scarcity, every day children die from under nourishment."

Or were the famine deniers disputing recent famines or previous famines, like Mali 1988-, Ethiopia, 1983–85, etc. Or is it "famines occurred thousands of years ago and are natural, therefore nothing we could do could influence them".

And the "related causes" consequences of famine.

notes

- "In 2005, about 10.1 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. Almost all of these deaths occured in developing countries, 3/4 of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two regions that also suffer from the highest rates of hunger and malnutrition.

- "Most of these deaths are attributed, not to outright starvation, but to diseases that move in on vulnerable children whose bodies have been weakened by hunger.

- "Every year, more than 20 million low-birth weight babies are born in developing countries. These babies risk dying in infancy, while those who survive often suffer lifelong physical and cognitive disabilities.