Famine Quote by Jeffrey Gettleman
““Famines are not natural disasters. Famines are man-made. Droughts happen from time to time. But in this century, for any drought to metastasize into a famine, it takes a monumental breakdown in the economy, in relief efforts, in communication, and in the customs and traditions that usually keep places like Somalia from totally unraveling.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The New York Times, “Why Famines Happen”, 2011
Famine results from systemic failures, not just natural causes, requiring coordinated economic and social response.
In simple terms: Famine is caused by human systems failing.
Key Takeaway
Address systemic weaknesses to prevent famine.
Themes
humanitarian
economics
policy
social
systems
Mood
urgent
concerned
Type
analytical
informative
When to use this quote
- disaster relief planning
- government policy
- NGO coordination
- community resilience
Key Concepts
structural vulnerability
resource allocation
governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we strengthen local governance to prevent famine?
- What role does international aid play in early warning?
A Different Perspective
Even with good policies, political instability can still trigger famine.
