Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
Contents14
- AAngola
- BCosta Rica
- CEcuador
- DSomalia
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Answer: (D) Somalia
Somalia has suffered decades of civil war, political instability, and severe food shortages.
The worst drought in 40 years (five consecutive failed rainy seasons) has pushed 6.5 million people into acute food insecurity.
Answer is (d) Somalia.
Somalia has faced continuous civil war since 1991 when the central government collapsed, making it a chronically failed state with recurring humanitarian crises.
In 2022-2023, Somalia experienced its worst drought in 40 years with five consecutive failed rainy seasons, pushing over 6 million people into acute food insecurity and making international headlines.
The question tests knowledge of which African countries are associated with chronic instability versus stable regions, as the other options are relatively stable Latin American nations.
Somalia's Civil War & Humanitarian Crisis
World Affairs (International Relations) Somalia civil strife food shortages famine
Somalia: Civil War, State Collapse & Humanitarian Crisis
Somalia has faced continuous civil war since 1991 following government collapse
Al-Shabaab terrorist group controls large parts of the country
2011 and 2022 famines killed hundreds of thousands
6.5 million people face acute food insecurity due to consecutive droughts
Why Somalia Fits
Somalia is a failed state in the Horn of Africa that has experienced over 30 years of continuous conflict since its central government collapsed in 1991. The country exemplifies how civil war creates cascading humanitarian disasters.
Somalia's Crisis Timeline
Period | Key Event | Humanitarian Impact |
|---|---|---|
1991 | Central government collapse, civil war begins | Mass displacement begins |
2006-2012 | Al-Shabaab rises, controls territory | Blocks humanitarian aid |
2011 | Declared famine in six regions | 260,000 deaths, half children |
2022-2023 | Five consecutive failed rains | 6.5 million face food crisis |
Current Challenges
Al-Shabaab controls rural areas, taxes farmers, blocks aid delivery
Climate change intensifies droughts - worst in 40 years recently
Weak federal government cannot provide basic services or security
Pirates off Somalia coast disrupt international shipping
Refugee crisis - over 1 million internally displaced persons
Somalia's Location
Source: Testbook — Horn Of Africa : UPSC Geography Notes for Prelims and Mains · testbook.com
Angola had civil war but ended in 2002 - not current decades-long strife
Costa Rica and Ecuador are Latin American countries with no major famines
Only Somalia combines both ongoing civil conflict and recent severe famine
Horn of Africa Regional Dynamics
World Affairs (International Relations) civil strife
Horn of Africa: Regional Conflicts & Security Challenges
Horn of Africa includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti
Strategic importance - controls Red Sea shipping routes
Multiple conflicts - Somalia civil war, Ethiopia-Tigray, Eritrea tensions
Regional Security Issues
# Horn of Africa Security
## Somalia
- Al-Shabaab terrorism
- Piracy
- Failed state
## Ethiopia
- Tigray conflict
- Oromo tensions
- GERD dispute
## Regional Impact
- Refugee flows
- Arms trafficking
- Maritime securityInternational Response
AMISOM - African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia since 2007
Combined Maritime Forces patrol against Somali pirates
UN agencies provide humanitarian aid despite security challenges
China, US, France maintain military bases in Djibouti for regional stability
Global Food Crises & Famine Patterns
World Affairs (International Relations) food shortages famine
Understanding Global Food Crises & Famine Causes
Conflict is the primary driver of severe famines globally
Climate shocks intensify food insecurity in vulnerable regions
IPC Phase 5 = famine declaration requires specific thresholds
Major Famine Drivers
Driver | Mechanism | Recent Examples | Impact Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
Armed Conflict | Disrupts food production, blocks aid | Yemen, Somalia, Syria | Affects millions |
Extreme Weather | Droughts, floods destroy crops | East Africa droughts | Regional impact |
Economic Shocks | Food price spikes, currency collapse | Sri Lanka, Lebanon | National level |
Disease Outbreaks | Affects livestock, agricultural labor | Locusts in East Africa | Cross-border |
Early Warning Systems
FEWS NET monitors food security across 35 countries
IPC classification - Phase 1 (minimal) to Phase 5 (famine)
Satellite monitoring tracks crop conditions and rainfall patterns
Market price tracking identifies food access problems early
Famine vs food shortage - famine has specific death rate thresholds
Natural vs man-made - most modern famines result from conflict, not just drought
Chronic vs acute - distinguish ongoing malnutrition from emergency famine
Option Analysis: Angola, Costa Rica, Ecuador
World Affairs (International Relations) Angola Costa Rica Ecuador
Why Other Options Don't Fit: Country Status Analysis
Countries Comparison
Country | Region | Civil Conflict Status | Food Security Status | Why Wrong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Angola | Southern Africa | Civil war ended 2002 | Oil-rich, stable food supply | Past conflict, not current |
Costa Rica | Central America | No army since 1948 | Middle-income, food secure | Stable democracy |
Ecuador | South America | Political instability only | Agricultural exporter | No major famine |
Somalia | Horn of Africa | Ongoing since 1991 | Acute food crisis 2022-23 | ✓ Matches criteria |
Key Distinctions
Angola - recovered from civil war, now oil-wealthy African state
Costa Rica - known for stability, abolished military, eco-tourism economy
Ecuador - faces political challenges but no humanitarian crisis
Only Somalia fits both criteria: ongoing conflict AND recent severe famine