When the Igbos of eastern Nigeria declared themselves independent in
1967, Nigeria blockaded their fledgling country-Biafra.
In three years of war, more than one million people died, mainly of
hunger. In famine, children who lack protein often get the disease
kwashiorkor, which causes their muscles to waste away and their
bellies to protrude.
War photographer Don McCullin drew attention to the tragedy.
"I was
devastated by the sight of 900 children living in one camp in utter
squalor at the point of death,"
he said.
"I lost all
interest in photographing soldiers in action."
The world community intervened to help Biafra, and learned key
lessons about dealing with massive hunger exacerbated by war - a
problem that still defies simple solutions.
