A famine; a large-scale food shortage caused by crop failure or other disasters.
江戸時代には何度も大きな飢饉が起きた。
During the Edo period, large famines occurred many times.
飢饉で作物が全滅し、多くの人が亡くなった。
A famine wiped out the crops and many people died.
Used (often figuratively) for a chronic shortage of essentials other than food, e.g. water scarcity.
近年は水の飢饉が問題になっている地域がある。
In recent years there are regions where water scarcity has become a problem.
経済制裁で医薬品の飢饉に陥る恐れがある。
There is a risk of a shortage of medicines due to economic sanctions.