Question 19 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Current Affairs

Question

Very recently, in which of the following countries have lakhs of people either suffered from severe famine/acute malnutrition or died due to starvation caused by war/ethnic conflicts?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Yemen and South Sudan

Strategy: Associate the keywords 'famine', 'starvation', and 'war/ethnic conflicts' with recent global humanitarian crises. Yemen and South Sudan are known for severe food insecurity directly triggered by ongoing civil wars and ethnic violence, leading to international emergency appeals. The other country pairs have no comparable or recent crises of this scale reported in international media or agencies.

Key Info: ## Yemen Crisis
Yemen has faced a devastating civil war since 2015, primarily between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government, complicated by a Saudi-led military intervention. As a result, over 17 million Yemenis--more than half the population--have needed humanitarian assistance. Famine conditions have worsened due to blockades and destruction of infrastructure, leading to acute malnutrition, cholera outbreaks, and widespread deaths from lack of clean water.

## South Sudan Crisis
South Sudan has experienced an ongoing civil war since its independence in 2011, with violence between government and opposition forces as well as ethnic strife. This has caused large-scale displacement, disrupted agriculture, and hindered humanitarian access, leaving over 6 million people severely food insecure. Famine was declared in certain regions in 2017, and continued insecurity and economic collapse keep much of the population at risk.

## Global Context
International organizations, including the United Nations, World Food Programme, and UNICEF, have declared both Yemen and South Sudan as epicenters of modern famine and among the most severe humanitarian crises globally. In contrast, countries like Angola, Zambia, Morocco, Tunisia, Venezuela, and Colombia, while facing economic and structural challenges, have not recently experienced widespread famine and conflict-driven starvation at the scale seen in Yemen and South Sudan.

Answer

Option A: Angola and Zambia

Answer

Option B: Morocco and Tunisia

Answer

Option C: Venezuela and Colombia