Collocations for famine - noun

great, severe, terrible | widespread | imminent, impending
Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place.

face, suffer
Four million people are now facing famine. | countries that regularly suffer famines

cause, produce | relieve

strike
When famine strikes, it is often women and children who suffer the most.

relief | victim

during a/the ~
Thousands of people died during the terrible famine of that year.

a threat of famine