Persian Famine

Famine exacerbated by British occupation, requisition, drought

Years
1917–19
Country
Persia (modern-day Iran)
Capital City
Teheran
Conflict Locations
Persia (modern Iran), widespread famine zones
Children Affected
Estimated millions, part of the 2–8M total deaths
Sources

The Persian famine of 1917–1919 (Persian: قحطی ۱۲۹۶-۱۲۹۸ ایران) was a period of widespread mass starvation and disease in Iran under the rule of the Qajar dynasty during World War I.  So far, few historians have researched the famine, making it an understudied subject of modern history.

The daily sheep kill at Bijar. A small party of starving men and women fighting for the entrails. 1914-1918. Source: Australian War Memorial.

The daily sheep kill at Bijar. A small party of starving men and women fighting for the entrails. 1914-1918. Source: Australian War Memorial.

The British occupied Persian lands during WWI, confiscating food, pack animals, breaking supply chains, spreading disease. Between 2 and 8 million Persians died. In 1918 the U.S. refused a $2 million famine relief loan.