The famine in Ethiopia was not adequately address because of government corruption. Initially, before the BBC report of the famine, Ethiopia had been in distress for about a year. Complaints of food shortages and request for food relief reached the government, although complaints were ignored and said to be exaggerated. The emperor, Mengistu, believed news of a famine would ruin his reputation and compromise his future role in the government (Urbach). In reference to the famine and its effects Mengistu said, “it is best to let nature run its course” (Dugo). Before the famine became world wide news, the government did not address the initial indications of a famine. Refusal to address the crisis from the beginning caused a manageable food
