Food and Nutrition (Africa)

The mobile nature of the war in Africa meant supplying the forces with food was a challenge. As the centre of conflict moved, African colonial home fronts became battle fronts, impacting the production of food for both inhabitants and combatants. Large numbers of carriers were required as mechanical transport was frequently unsuitable for the terrain. Inadequate food and inappropriate diets resulted in weak immune systems among the participants, leading to increased illness and death, whilst the need to obtain food resulted in people flocking to towns for employment.
1914-1918-Online International Encyclopedia of the First World War