DISASTER - FaMINE Part A

THE WORLD

DISASTERS

Perilous Crossing
           Driven from the land, 1.2 million Irish people emigrated in 1847-52, most of them to the United States. The long voyge in crowded, unsanitary ships was a dangerous one - among every 100 passengers, 16 would die at sea.

Help from above
       Today, famine continues to stalk many countries, especially in Africa, where food shortages due to crop failure can turn into disaster because of warfare or corruption. Then, international agencies must bring in emergency food by every means available.

Uncharitable response
       Ireland, then a province of the United Kingdom, was largely owned by English landlords, some of whom reacted to famine by turning tenants off their land when they could not pay the rent. People who refused to leave were evicted by the army, who often burned their homes to ensure they would not return. The British Government did provide some aid to Ireland - but it was too little, too late.