5 Worst Famines in Human History

Famine—an extreme lack of food, is considered one of the worst disasters on the planet. It is not a natural disaster; rather, it is the result of human behavior or a failure to take preventative action. Its effects are widespread. Malnutrition, starvation, epidemics, and higher death rates are seen as a result of famine. The elderly and young suffer the most from it. Lack of food products, the death of millions of people—famine can cripple a nation. Its damage may last for months or even years. According to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification), a famine can be declared after three specific conditions have been met. These include:

1. At least 20% of the population faces acute food shortages.
2. About one out of three children suffer from acute malnutrition.
3. And when two people are dying per day for every 10,000 inhabitants because of starvation (or a combination of severe hunger and illness).

In general, famines have a number of specific causes, including conflict, government policies, drought, heavy rainfall, and unfavorable weather. Many historical famines were the direct result of genocidal acts taken by governments to eliminate certain populations by confiscating their food.

The top five worst famines in history are listed below:

5. Great Bengal Famine of 1770

In 1770, Bengal and Bihar were struck by famine, which is known as the great Bengal famine of 1770. It began in 1769 and continued until 1773. Around 10 million people, or one-third of the population, died from starvation, malaria, and other diseases aggravated by malnutrition, population displacement, unsanitary conditions, and lack of health care as a consequence. It occurred during the period of dual governance when the East India Company had been granted the right to diwani or to collect revenue. The main reason for the famine was not natural calamities, rather it was man-caused disasters. The British company tried many ways to show that it happened because of a natural disaster. Recent research showed that drought in 1769, bad harvest, and British economic and administrative policies were the causes of the famine.

4. Ukraine Famine of 1932

Holodomor, which means to kill by starvation, is a term derived from the Ukrainian words for hunger (holod) and extermination (mor). It was a famine that devastated the Soviet republic of Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. More than 10 million people died from starvation and being deprived of food. It is one of the deadliest man-made famines in history. It was devised by the Soviet leaders. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's policy of collectivization. Under collectivization, millions of peasants were forced off their land and made to join state farms, which led to a drop in production and food shortages. It also triggered a series of peasant rebellions. The state forcibly took peasants' lands and destroyed any hidden crops and seeds, which caused mass starvation and killed millions of people.

3. Chalisa Famine (1783–1784)

In 1780, the Indian subcontinent followed unusual El Niño events, which caused droughts throughout the region. This drought led to a famine known as the Chalisa Famine (1783–1784). The famine affected many parts of north India, especially Delhi, Western Oudh, the Eastern Punjab region, Rajputana, and Kashmir. It is thought that up to 11 million people died because of a lack of food and drinking water.

2. Chinese Famine of 1907

The Chinese Famine of 1907 is the second-worst famine in human history. In 1906, triggered by heavy rain, China faced floods. which hit the Huai River particularly hard. As a result, the summer and autumn harvests were destroyed. Almost 25 million people died from hunger. It is estimated that, on a good day, only 5,000 people were dying due to starvation.

1. Great Chinese Famine (1959–1961)

From 1959–1961, the world's largest and deadliest famine in human history, known as the Great Chinese Famine, occurred. It is characterized as a man-made event or a genocidal intent. Much like the Soviet famine, it was a result of the communist leader's policy “Great Leap Forward". It was a result of poor crop production, radical agricultural policies, and natural disasters. Around, 55 million people died from starvation, malnutrition, and many other diseases.