The world's hungriest countries.Drought drought, abnormally long period of insufficient rainfall. Drought cannot be defined in terms of inches of rainfall or number of days without rain, since it is determined by such variable factors as the distribution in time and area of precipitation during and before is the single largest cause of food shortages in the world. But human-made factors such as war create refugees Individuals who leave their native country for social, political, or religious reasons, or who are forced to leave as a result of any type of disaster, including war, political upheaval, and famine. and internally displaced displaced see displacement. people. In some countries, large numbers of people are made homeless, or displaced, by armed conflict or natural disasters. These people are unable to farm the land or are cut off from their traditional sources of food. Hunger Hunger A term most commonly used to refer to the subjective feelings that accompany the need for food; however, the study of this topic has come to include consideration of the overall control of food intake. is particularly hard on the young, and leads to high death rates for children. The chart below lists some of the countries with the highest percentages of undernourished people, their mortality rates for children under 5, and some of their greatest challenges to food security. Questions 1. The nations with the highest percentages of undernourished people are located on which continent continent, largest unit of landmasses on the earth. The continents include Eurasia (conventionally regarded as two continents, Europe and Asia), Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. ? -- 2. Which is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Part of Earth comprising North and South America and the surrounding waters. Longitudes 20° W and 160° E are often considered its boundaries. listed on the chart? -- 3. How many years has Afghanistan Afghanistan (ăfgăn`ĭstăn', ăfgän'ĭstän`), officially Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, republic (2005 est. pop. 29,929,000), 249,999 sq mi (647,497 sq km), S central Asia. been affected by conflict? -- 4. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the chart, which nation has the highest percentage of its population living below the poverty line? -- 5. According to the chart, which nation has the highest mortality rate among children 5-years-old or younger? -- 6. War has displaced nearly 2 million people in which African nation? -- 7. What actions by governments and groups in the chart have led to Africa's hunger crisis? -- 8. Of the human-made and natural causes for world hunger, which do you think poses the greatest threat? Explain your answer. -- 9. What can you infer about the social infrastructure of the nations represented on the chart? Explain your answer. -- 10. Why do you think no European European emanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. nations are listed on the chart? --
COUNTRY % Under- Under 5 Threats to Food
nourished (1) Mortality (2) Security
AFRICA
Congo 75 205 * 1.7 million displaced
(Democratic by war, millions more
Republic) cut off from
traditional sources of
food.
Somalia 71 225 * natural resources
destroyed by civil war,
drought, and floods;
350,000 displaced.
Burundi 70 190 * 490,000 displaced by
military conflicts;
drought threatens
700,000.
Eritrea 61 111 * drought afflicts half
the country; over a
million farmers
displaced by Ethiopian
conflict.
Mozambique 53 197 * irregular rains or
drought, severe crop
failure; 70% in
poverty; 13% infected
by HIV/AIDS.
Zambia 50 202 * ongoing drought and
poor harvests; 21% with
HIV/AIDS; about 70%
live below poverty
line.
Sierra Leone 50 316 * 750,000 displaced from
a decade of civil war.
ASIA
Tajikistan 71 116 * 500,000 displaced by
civil war; 66% of
population below
poverty line.
Afghanistan 70 257 * worst drought in 30
years; 26 years of
conflict; 4.3 million
without sufficient
access to food.
NORTH
AMERICA
Haiti 49 123 * 80% live in poverty;
47% of children under
5 moderately or
severely stunted.
(1) For the period 1999-2001
(2) Deaths per 1,000 births, 2001
SOURCES: The State of Food Insecurety in the World 2003, United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organisation; UN World Food Program; U.S.
Committee on Refugees
Answers 1. Africa 2. Haiti Haiti (hā`tē), Fr. Haïti (äētē`), officially Republic of Haiti, republic (2005 est. pop. 8,122,000), 10,700 sq mi (27,713 sq km), West Indies, on the western third of the island of Hispaniola. 3. 26 years 4. Haiti 5. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone (sēĕr`ə lēō`nē, lēōn`; sēr`ə lēōn), officially Republic of Sierra Leone, republic (2005 est. pop. 6,018,000), 27,699 sq mi (71,740 sq km), W Africa. 6. Congo Congo, river, Africa Congo (kŏng`gō) or Zaïre (zī`ēr, zäēr`), great river of equatorial Africa, c. (Democratic Republic) 7. military conflicts, civil war, poverty, HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 8. Answers will vary. 9. Answers will vary, but may cite weak infrastructures. 10. Answers will vary. Students may cite less severe climate and stronger infrastructures and economies. |
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