Exploration
Survival was the first cause of man's thirst to explore the world. Many parts were discovered in search of food and shelter. Learn how Vikings, Phoenicians and other explorers discover different parts
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Conservation
Factors effecting climate
Erosion
Most Viewed in Geography
Coasts
Earth Movements
Dust Bowl In Great Plains – United States
Famine relief is an important part of the work of the International Red Cross organization, which transports and distributes food in famine-stricken areas.
Famine
Famine occurs when food supplies become extremely scarce and people begin to starve to death. Famine is usually caused by natural disasters, such as drought or flood, or by sudden plagues of insect pests such as locusts, or by sudden epidemics of animal or plant diseases. But war may also bring about famine, when the fighting prevents supplies of food from reaching a region.
Famine is less common nowadays than in former years, because the transport of food is easier now. In earlier times, people often starved because food could not reach them from nearby regions where the crops had not failed. In addition, farming techniques have improved and failure of crops is less likely to happen nowadays. But famine is still liable to occur, particularly in developing nations in Africa and Asia. Although starvation is not widespread, a large proportion of the world's population goes hungry, and there is an overall need to produce more food in the world and to distribute it where needed.
