NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–“Famine” is a powerfully emotive word, and aid organizations do not use it lightly to describe a humanitarian crisis.
In the strict sense, it means people are starving on a massive scale. Most major aid agencies only describe a crisis as a famine when the situation on the ground meets at least three of these eight conditions:
— At least 20 percent of the population has access to fewer than 2,000 calories of food a day.
— Acute malnutrition in more than 30 percent of children.
— Two deaths per 10,000 people due to starvation, or four child deaths per 10,000 children per day.
— A pandemic illness.
— Access to less than four liters of water a day.
— Large-scale displacement.
— Civil strife.
— Complete loss of assets and source of income.
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Compiled by IMB Staff.
