Famine Data Matters

Sound data on famines is vital at a time when mass starvation is increasing, but humanitarian programs are being cut and humanitarian data is under political threat.

We need to know where, when and why people are at risk of mass starvation. For this, data matters.

This webinar will launch the World Peace Foundation’s new dataset of historic famines and episodes of forced mass starvation. Part one is a catalogue of includes historic famines from 1870 to today. Part two covers catastrophes today. Project leader Alex de Waal will present key findings from in both datasets and pose crucial—and controversial—questions about trends in mortality and the causes of famine.

Speaker:

Alex de Waal, Executive Director, World Peace Foundation and Research Professor at The Fletcher School, Tufts University

Moderator:

Dan Maxwell, Henry J. Leir Professor in Food Security at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Research Director at the Feinstein International Center