>Folks starving due to dought or war, usually things beyond their control, is a greater concern to me. When we (the USA and Allied countries) tried to do something about it in Somolia, for example, we end up getting shot at and killed by the people we are trying to help. So, why bother?

Usually it's not the same people. The food that the government of the country you are helping have is consumend mainly by the army. The inocent civilians are the starving ones.