Famine In South Sudan

Famines, in many cases, affect populations disproportionately, with some ethnicities facing worse conditions than other parts of the populace. This reality is rooted in the country’s social dynamics and the human construct of divisions between groups of people. Minority groups are discriminated against, and that usually resulted in them having the least amount of access to food in times of famine, as was experienced by marginalized peoples in Somalia. The two minority clans that were the most disproportionately affected by the famines of the early 1990s and 2011 are the Reewin and Bantu. These clans live in the rural regions of Somalia and make their living off of agricultural pursuits. For instance, the Bantu primarily farm “a variety of

As competition and tension between groups rise, so does the danger of conflict impeding on food production and putting any stores of food at risk of being stolen, as has been the widespread consequences violence in the region. Tribalist politics, as Ylönen argues, are creating more divisions amongst the population following South Sudan’s independence in 2011 because “clan-based “tribalism” as one of the crucial obstacles for nation-building.” The violence becomes a perpetual cycle of periods of aggravation, armed conflict, and intermissions due to the severe divides amongst the population. People are motivated to take up arms against other tribes or clans in fear of losing their livelihoods, fighting back against forces associated with the state, obtaining resources for personal survival or enrichment, and even in fear of falling victim to the violence itself. These social divides are putting the population at risk of succumbing to mass starvation, similar to the food shortages in South Sudan during previous bouts of conflict. The Nuer and Dinka are ethnic groups that have been particularly affected by violence in South Sudan, as many have died as a result of the “ravages of war, famine, disease and displacement since 1991.” Ethnic fuelled conflict can leave people susceptible to negative

It is essentially the most prominent factor involved with why famines and global hunger continue to persist in a world where the technology, financial capabilities, and motivation exist from which solutions can be drawn to end food insecurity around the globe. Famines and food shortages continue to persist due to man-made influences that make situations of instability worse and perpetuate dangerous circumstances that put populations at risk of starvation. Inept governments and armed conflict are political aspects that are fundamental in causing famines by destroying essential livelihoods and internally displacing people. Economic downfalls can artificially change domestic markets that are dependent on industries such as agriculture or oil production. Also, massive increases in food prices, due to inflation, can drastically impact the accessibility of food to populations facing shortages. Finally, ethnic divides and social constructs of tribes or clans play a big role in how people can be affected by a famine. Whether it is through dependency on specific agricultural practices or severe rivalries and competition amongst kin groups, there is a significant societal aspect as to how human actions can result in man-made famines. Food shortages and famines are a part of human history, but it has not been so integrated into the international sphere at the calibre it is