The governments of these terribly poor countries did not have the administrative infrastructure or the personnel to carry out highly complicated disaster relief programs. Many of the people most seriously affected were nomads. No one knew where many of these people were. and. spread out across the desert. they were extremely difficult to reach with food supplies and medicine. Most of them were helped only when they reached refugee campsand thousands died on the way. Fourth. the drought came at a time when there was a world shortage of food. In the past. the United States has had abundant surpluses which could be used to avert famine around the world.