Food Crisis – What constitutes a famine, and what can be done? (ENG)

At the end of February 2017, the United Nations declared that 20 million people are on the brink of famine.
The organisation estimates it will need 4.4 billion dollars to be able to assist the 4 countries at risk (Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen).

The definition of a famine is very precise and MSF’s experience in the area should help provide some context.

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Food Crisis – What constitutes a famine, and what can be done? (INT)

Crise alimentaire – Qu’est-ce qu’une famine, et comment agir ? (FR)

Subt. French

A Month in Focus - April 2017

Food Crisis – What constitutes a famine, and what can be done? (DE)

Subt. German

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF192962

Date taken / Date Recorded 31/05/2017 12:00 AM

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Additional Information / Shotlist FOOD CRISIS
At the end of February 2017, the United Nations declared that 20 million people are on the brink of famine.
The organisation estimates it will need 4.4 billion dollars to be able to assist the 4 countries at risk (Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen).

The nutrition situation in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen is extremely worrying.
But the figures of 20 million people and 4.4 billion dollars do not suffice to declare a famine.
The definition of a famine is very precise and MSF’s experience in the area should help provide some context.

ONSCREEN TEXT : 20 million – 4,4 billion - FAMINE – PRECISE DEFINITION

There are five levels of food insecurity, with famine the worst.
ONSCREEN TEXT : FOOD INSECURITY - FAMINE

The term famine can be used when the following criteria are met:
- The mortality rate exceeds 2 deaths per 10,000 people per day
- Acute malnutrition exceeds 30%,
- And one person in every five is not getting enough to eat.
According to surveys held in these four countries this winter, only two counties in South Sudan fulfil these criteria. The others are considered as at risk.
ONSCREEN TEXT : 2 DEATHS PER DAY / 10,000 PEOPLE – RIP – ACUTE MALNUTRITION RATE
> 30% - NOT ENOUGH TO EAT – SURVEYS – FAMINE – 2016-2017 – AT RISK

MSF knows from experience that periods of actual famine are relatively rare. They are limited both in time and space and are marked by very high mortality, not just among those considered at risk (young children and the elderly) but the whole population.
ONSCREEN TEXT : PERIODS OF FAMINE – RARE – SPACE - TIME – VERY HIGH MORTALITY RATES – PEOPLE AT RISK – WHOLE POPULATION
The causes of famine are varied. They can be natural, but in the case of these four countries, the food insecurity is largely man-made with conflicts preventing people from cultivating their land, cutting off supply routes and pushing up food prices.
ONSCREEN TEXT : CAUSES OF FAMINE VARIED – FOOD INSECURITY MAN-MADE

There are three ways to respond to a food crisis:
- Re-establish access to adequate supplies of nutritious food. This can be achieved either by enabling local people to cultivate their fields, tend to their livestock and trade or by distributing food. All these require allowing civilians and aid workers to circulate freely.
- Provide nutritional support to the most vulnerable, particularly children. Timely distributions of food supplements adapted to their specific needs prevent the onset of acute malnutrition.
- Treat cases of severe acute malnutrition, either in the home with ready to use therapeutic foods or in hospital. Medical teams also treat malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea — illnesses triggered by malnutrition and that increase the likelihood of dying.
ONSCREEN TEXT : 3 WAYS TO RESPOND – FOOD STORE – CULTIVATE LAND – TEND TO LIVESTOCK – TRADE – DISTRIBUTE FOOD - NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT – SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION – THERAPEUTIC FOODS – Malaria – Respiratory infections - diarrhoea

None of these are possible in some areas of Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia… Not through lack of funds but because their inhabitants are isolated and cut off from the world by warring parties who have little concern for their survival but on whom access to aid depends.