4.3 Case Study: Sudan and South Sudan

Question 1

Two primary reasons for food shortages in Sudan and South Sudan

Answer 1

• Long civil war
• Drought

Question 2

Explain the impact of the civil war

Answer 2

• Lasted over 20 years betewen the government of Khartoum and rebel forces in South Sudan
• The civil war was fuelled, prolongued and part-financed by oil
• Around 2 million people were displaced by the war and more than 70,000 people died from hunger and associated diseases
• At times the UN World Food Programme stopped deliveries of vital food supplies because the situation was considered too dangerous for the drivers and aid workers

Question 3

Physical factors that lead to food insecurity and famine

Answer 3

• Long-term decline of rainfall
• Increased rainfall variability
• Increased use of marginal land leading to degradation
• Flooding

Question 4

Social factors that lead to food insecurity and famine

Answer 4

• High population growth (3%) linked to use of marginal land (overgrazing, erosion)
• High female illiteracy rates
• Poor infant health
• Increased threat of AIDS

Question 5

Agricultural factors that lead to food insecurity and famine

Answer 5

• Highly variable per person food production; long-term the trend its static
• Static (cereals and pulses) or falling (foots and tubers) crop yields
• Low and falling fertiliser use (compounded by falling export receipts
• Lack of a food surplus for use in crisis

Question 6

Economic/political factors that lead to food insecurity and famine

Answer 6

• High dependency on farming (70% of labour force; 37% of GDP)
• Dependency on food imports (13% of consumption 1998-2000) whilst exporting non-food goods e.g cotton
• Limited access to markets to buy food or infrastructure to distribute it
• Debt and debt repayments limit social and economic spending
• High military dependancy